Researchers have made an important discovery at the Cova Negra archaeological site in Valencia, Spain. They found evidence that a Neanderthal child with Down syndrome lived among a small group of Neanderthals. The fossil, discovered near Xàtiva, is the earliest known evidence of Down syndrome. This finding gives new information about Neanderthal social structures and caregiving practices.

The fossil was discovered in 1989, but scientists only recently realized how important it is. It is a piece of the temporal bone, which is part of the skull and protects the brain and ear canal. The inner ear showed problems that match Down syndrome, like complete deafness, severe dizziness, and balance issues. Mercedes Conde-Valverde from the University of Alcalá in Spain led the study, which was published in the journal Science Advances. She said that the serious symptoms would have needed constant and cooperative care from the Neanderthal group, showing they were very caring. Further analysis found more problems in the semicircular canals and a smaller cochlea, confirming the child’s diagnosis. The exact age of the fossil is not known, but evidence suggests Neanderthals lived at the Cova Negra site between 273,000 and 146,000 years ago. Neanderthals, known as Homo neanderthalensis, were strong and intelligent. They made art, used complex hunting methods, and might have spoken a language. This discovery supports the idea of true altruism among Neanderthals, as the child received care from birth despite being unable to help others in return. Study co-author Valentín Villaverde said that the child’s survival beyond breastfeeding age shows extensive group caregiving. This finding highlights the diversity in prehistoric human evolution and shows the inherent altruism in Neanderthal communities. It also challenges previous ideas about their social behaviors.