The Sunday Read: ‘Neanderthals Were People, Too’

Neanderthals were long dismissed as primitive brutes, a misconception rooted in early scientific bias and a persistent human desire to maintain a distinct, superior lineage. Recent archaeological findings, such as the excavations at Gorham’s Cave in Gibraltar, demonstrate that Neanderthals possessed complex symbolic capabilities, including artistic expression, controlled fire-making, and sophisticated tool use. Genomic evidence further complicates the narrative by proving that interbreeding occurred between Neanderthals and early modern humans, suggesting a shared evolutionary history rather than a simple, violent replacement. This historical misrepresentation of our extinct relatives mirrors contemporary societal divisions, where the label "Neanderthal" is still weaponized to dehumanize others. Ultimately, the history of Neanderthal research reveals more about our own reflexive, often flawed, attempts to define humanity through exclusion and the projection of superiority onto those we perceive as different.