Love in the Time of the Neanderthals

In the Spring 2021 edition of the Washington College Review, Alaina Perdon ’22 offers a fascinating look at the medicinal practices of Neanderthals, finding evidence suggesting that this early human species possessed the capacity for love and compassion.

 

Her essay in the Washington College Review draws upon lessons learned during an introductory class in environmental anthropology and her own research into medicinal practices of the Neanderthals—the species that first emerged during the Pleistocene Epoch about 2.6 million years ago. Anthropologists are beginning to understand that our early human ancestors were not simple brutes, but had appreciation for art and language, developed new tools and technologies that helped them survive harsh environmental conditions, and offered rudimentary medical care to the sick and injured.  

“The best evidence of love exists in displays of compassion, the practice of caring for one another out of pure altruism, which shows emotional bonds and an ability to recognize the intrinsic value of another’s life,” Alaina writes. “This can be seen in Neanderthals’ healthcare practices, as they administered care to ill, injured, and elderly members of their groups indiscriminately, regardless of the cost to the greater society.… This emotional motivation drove the species to develop more complex methodologies, and certainly saved the species from early extinction by allowing them to surpass the limitations of their ecosystem.”

She recounts evidence of the use of medicinal plants for disinfecting wounds and respiratory illnesses, limb amputation after trauma, assisted childbirth, and accelerated healing patterns that indicate patients were carefully tended.

“Continued attempts at healing led Neanderthals to gain an aptitude for medical botany and further capitalize on the elements of their landscape,” Alaina writes.     

Those who couldn’t hunt or forage were provided for. The lesson here, she says, is that taking care of one another allowed the species to advance and to thrive.

“Each individual holds some responsibility for upholding the good of the species,” she concludes. “Caring for one another, regardless of how those we care for can return the favor or otherwise benefit our society, ultimately advances humanity. Clearly, Neanderthals loved one another, and we should emulate their compassion to better our own society.”

Since that first environmental anthropology class, Alaina has been committed to learning how humans fit into ecosystems. Her work with the Eastern Shore Food Lab has allowed her to expand upon that idea, as she explores the intersections of food and culture and the natural environment.

“What you eat can say so much about you, the land, and the human experience,” Alaina notes. “Now I go to a restaurant and think, “What do these spices say about colonization of West Indies?”

Alaina hopes that she can help others learn to love where they live, and to appreciate that connection between environment and society.

“What I really want to do is inspire people to find their place in the ecosystem. I’m not sure exactly what the future holds for me, but I always want to be teaching.”