The child's survival to age 6 may be due to altruism within the community.
The child's survival to age 6 may be due to altruism within the community.Fossilized fragments from a Neanderthal child’s ear bear congenital malformations that are consistent with Down Syndrome, researchers say.Fossils from the skull of a Neanderthal child that likely had Down syndrome shed light into the collaborative and communal caregiving that likely aided the child to survive to about age 6 -- unlikely for early hominins with congenital defects, according to new research.
"The only syndrome that is compatible with the entire set of malformations present in is Down syndrome," Conde-Valverde wrote. Neanderthals would tend to take care of or favor people were capable of return the favor or helping them in another way. But this Neanderthal girl -- who suffered from health issues such as hearing loss, imbalance problems and vertigo -- likely could not return the favor, so her survival appears to be bared purely on the altruism of the adults around her, Conde-Valverde said.
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