Neanderthal Daycare

Paleontologists have discovered a trove of what they believe to be 257 Neanderthal footprints in France. Until this discovery, only nine footprints have been previously identified as Neanderthal. The new prints come from 10 to 13 individuals, most of whom were children. The team can’t be absolutely certain what humans left the prints, but the anatomy of the feet and the dating of the prints both point to what is known of Neanderthals.

Along with what seems to be evidence of children at play, the largest footprints in the group yielded another surprise to researchers. The deep impression indicates that the heavy-set owner of those feet probably stood about five feet, eight inches tall, the average height for an adult male in the US. This individual was not short, as is often assumed about Neanderthal humans.

The large number of children’s feet in a small area possibly gives a snapshot of Neanderthal life. According to one researcher, it shows “some beautiful evidence that children were being watched after by their parents and others.” As one article stated, “In recent years, Neanderthals have started to look a lot more human.”

Faulty suppositions, arising sometimes from lack of evidence, sometimes from wrong philosophy, caused early scientists to present an inaccurate picture of Neanderthals. But the more secular scientists learn, the more difficult it is for them to avoid the conclusion that Neanderthals were fully human, created in God’s image, like their ancestor Adam and like us.

This article was taken from Answers magazine, January–February, 2020, 23.