Neandertal burial practices in Western Asia: How different are they from those of the early Homo sapiens?

IF 0.6 4区 地球科学 Q3 ANTHROPOLOGY
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The Middle Paleolithic of Western Asia is one of the more composite time periods in human evolution as it hosted at least two hominin species – early Homo sapiens and Neandertals. The early Homo sapiens originated from Africa whereas Neandertals arrived from Europe. In the Levant, these populations explored the same geographical niches, utilized similar resources, and may even inhabited the same caves. While the biological and morphological evidence discriminate between the two hominin populations, the material culture does not. Middle Paleolithic Neandertals and Homo sapiens used the same knapping methods to make their formal stone tools (i.e., Levallois core technology). This unique scenario hypothetically proposes that the two species shared one material culture. In the current research, we examine this hypothesis through studying the burial practices of these two distinct populations and comparing biological and cultural data from primary grave contexts. Examined anthropological and cultural variables show similar behavior in some respects such as body position, gender, age at death or burial offerings/goods, but also exhibit differences in location of burials within the caves, choice of different grave goods, and special positional markers. The analyzed data propose the two populations share some cultural behavior from the origin territory (Europe, Africa). Nevertheless, Middle Paleolithic Levantine burials are earlier than Neandertal burials in Europe and from Homo sapiens burials in Africa. Accordingly, we conclude the custom of human burials was innovated in the Levant from where it spread to the Neandertal territorial range in Europe. The arrival of Homo sapiens and Neandertal populations to the Levant between MIS 5 and MIS 3 likely influenced territorial dynamics. A compelling indicator of land ownership is evident in the widespread practice of burials by both populations. We hypothesize that the growing frequency of burials by these two populations in Western Asia is linked to the intensified competition for resources and space resulting from the arrival of these populations.

西亚尼安德特人的丧葬习俗:与早期智人的丧葬习俗有何不同?
西亚旧石器时代中期是人类进化史上较为复杂的时期之一,因为在这一时期至少有两个类人物种--早期智人和新地形人。早期智人起源于非洲,而尼安德特人则来自欧洲。在黎凡特,这两个种群探索相同的地理环境,利用相似的资源,甚至可能居住在相同的洞穴中。虽然生物学和形态学证据可以区分这两个类人种群,但物质文化却不能。旧石器时代中期的尼安德特人和智人使用相同的敲击方法来制作正式的石器(即莱瓦卢瓦核心技术)。这种独特的情况假设这两个物种共享一种物质文化。在目前的研究中,我们通过研究这两个不同种群的埋葬习俗,并比较原始墓葬背景中的生物和文化数据,对这一假设进行了研究。所研究的人类学和文化变量在某些方面表现出相似的行为,如身体姿势、性别、死亡年龄或随葬品/物品,但在洞穴内的埋葬位置、不同随葬品的选择和特殊位置标记方面也表现出差异。分析数据表明,这两个族群在某些文化行为上与原居地(欧洲、非洲)相同。然而,旧石器时代中期的黎凡特人墓葬早于欧洲的尼安德特人墓葬,也早于非洲的智人墓葬。因此,我们得出结论,人类的墓葬习俗是在黎凡特创新的,并从那里传播到欧洲的尼安德特人领地范围。在 MIS 5 和 MIS 3 之间,智人和尼安德特人到达黎凡特很可能影响了领土动态。这两个种群普遍的墓葬习俗是土地所有权的一个明显指标。我们假设,这两个种群在西亚的墓葬活动日益频繁,与这些种群的到来加剧了对资源和空间的竞争有关。
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来源期刊
Anthropologie
Anthropologie ANTHROPOLOGY-
CiteScore
1.00
自引率
0.00%
发文量
59
期刊介绍: First published in 1890, Anthropologie remains one of the most important journals devoted to prehistoric sciences and paleoanthropology. It regularly publishes thematic issues, originalsarticles and book reviews.
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