Scientists have always questioned whether the deep response to death are an exclusive feature of modern humans. Recent evidence show that Humans, with brains one third of the size of ours, were already buried the dead. Maybe we are not as special as we think.
From an early age, the inevitability and purpose of death become a molding force in our lives.
In fact, it can be said that our ability to recognize our eventual death and the pain that accompanies the loss of close people are central elements of what is human being.
This has led, since the distant past, the symbolic practices that have deep roots in human culture.
We have long assumed that Homo Sapiens was the only human species who had acquired awareness of the mortality of living beings.
However, as one says, about the old ritual of burying the dead, archaeologists are eager for question the idea that a deep and emotional response to death is an exclusive feature of our species.
The most challenging of their claims is that old humans, very different from us, have developed funeral rituals.
But there is more and more evidence that the Man naleedian old human in southern Africa with a brain with one third of ours size, already buried his dead At least 245,000 years ago.
It is not known precisely because these small brain humans felt compelled to develop a culture of death, but an intriguing – although speculative – is that they did it to help young people accept the loss of a group member.
Even animals have rituals
Much controversy involves the statement that H. Naledi buried his dead, especially with regard to the quality of evidence.
However, as referred to in another article, since the mid -twentieth century, archaeologists and scientists have parallel the behavioral difference between our species and others, led by research that show that even many animals have emotionally rich lives.
Some even develop their rituals themselves when confronted with death of community members.
Add to this that our ancestors have been developing their own artistic culture for at least 500,000 years and it is easier to accept that H. Naledi was able to develop their own funeral traditions.
After all, perhaps our species is not as special as we thought.
