What did Neanderthals do in their down time?

Question

Obviously they spent a lot of time just surviving, but they had to have had SOME time to relax. We can learn all about their ailments and their features and what they ate, but is there really any way to know if they had bbq's, got stoned, had sex as often as possible, etc?

Answer 1

We know that they had spiritual beliefs of some kind. In caves in Iraq and Israel Neanderthal remains have been found buried in the fetal position with plants [the pollen remains], which implies perhaps a notion that death was a rebirth, and remains have been found where the skulls of bears and other animals formed a circle which was probably used in some form of ritual.

If you'll look at the Australian Aborigones and the Great Basin Indians and other cultures from historical times who have very sparse material existences, one thing that is almost consistent is that they have very rich and highly detailed mythologies and love storytelling. Mythologie/legends take up no space and can be transported with total ease. It's believed that Neanderthals did not have as advanced speech as most humans, but they most certainly would have communicated, so my guess would be that storytelling and their belief system was a major part of their "leisure" time. Plus, most primitive cultures have games involving homemade toys or balls (animal bladders are really good for this- they don't taste good but they're [obviously] waterproof and thus make great 'ball' like toys- even Laura Ingalls described playing with pig's bladder balloons in the LITTLE HOUSE books), so there was probably that- it keeps you physically active and in shape when you're not hunting or gathering. So twixt the two- storytelling and contact games- it probably occupied what little leisure time they had.

Answer 2

Probably check their weapons to make sure they were in good shape. Replace weapons that might have been broken or lost during the hunt. Skin the animals that they killed, cure the skins, prepare food, make garments, boots, etc., etc. When your life depends on how well you hunt and the amount of meat that you can bring to your clan to survive, I do not think that R and R was pretty high in the Neanderthals agenda.

Answer 3

If you have the patience to read the whole thing, go to http://www.pagannews.com/sw.shtml, I think that's right -- it's an interview in Pagan News with the author Colin Wilson--he mentions the Neanderthals in a fascinating context. For whatever that's worth!

Answer 4

Beth,

I recently read a news article in the Wall Street Journal regarding Neanderthal DNA that scientists were able to isolate. The scientists said that they'd be able to artificially inseminate a female and make a Neanderthal baby. The problem they ran into was finding a woman willing to carry a Neanderthal baby to term.

I had to wonder if they asked Angelina Jolie. I think she'd do it!

Answer 5

You could guess by their artifacts, but you can't know for sure. Even the 'ailments and features' you mention are all speculation. We don't know anything at all about them for certain. I would guess that a lot of sex probably WAS had, however. =-)

Answer 6

Well, we hunted, we cleaned the cave, we buried out dead and then after the flesh rotted off, we dug up the bones and painted them with red ochre. We are big into clubs. We create interesting artifacts, but right now we are watching Cro Magnons ruin the world, so it is back in the cave for me.

Answer 7

I don't think anyone really positively knows for sure about any of the things you mentioned. They were not educated people by all means so go figure.

Answer 8

They went clubbing you know clubbing women. Then I am assuming they had their sex and went out and picked a big bud to smoke.

Answer 9

They made money doing Geico commercials in their spare time.

Answer 10

Well, we're here, so pretty much they must have been all up on each other at some point.