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Cited by 223Pleistocene-Era Hominins and ArchaeologyForensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology StudiesArchaeological and Geological Studies

Evidence supporting an intentional Neandertal burial at La Chapelle-aux-Saints

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Rendu, William, Beauval, Cédric, Crevecoeur, Isabelle, Bayle, Priscilla, Balzeau, Antoine, Bismuth, Thierry, Bourguignon, Laurence, Delfour, Géraldine +6 more·2014·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
DOI 10.1073/pnas.1316780110PMC PMC3890882
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Abstract

Significance: For several decades, scholars have questioned the existence of burial in Western Europe prior to the arrival of Anatomically Modern Humans. Therefore, an approach combining a global field recovery and the reexamination of the previously discovered Neandertal remains has been undertaken in the site of La Chapelle-aux-Saints (France), where the hypothesis of a Neandertal burial was raised for the first time. This project has concluded that the Neandertal of La Chapelle-aux-Saints was deposit in a pit dug by other members of its group and protected by a rapid covering from any disturbance. These discoveries attest the existence of West European Neandertal burial and of the Neandertal cognitive capacity to produce it.

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  • There is increasing evidence that Neanderthals may have been as socially complex and varied on an intra- and inter-group level as modern humans in the treatment of their dead and within the symbolic realm.

    “In regards to Neanderthals there is an increasing body of evidence that suggests they may well have been as socially complex and varied on an intra- and inter-group level as modern humans in the treatment of their dead606162 and within the symbolic realm636465.”

    From Assessing the calorific significance of episodes of human cannibalism in the Palaeolithic (2017) · cites this paper as [60]

    The Abstract (page not specified) supports intentional Neandertal burial and reports multiple possible burials, some reflecting complex funeral practices. It does not establish that Neandertals were as socially complex or varied as modern humans at intra- and inter-group levels. In the citing sentence, separate citations are attached to the claim about the symbolic realm. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • Neanderthals seem to have had varying attitudes to the burial and treatment of their dead.

    “Why then would a hominin species such as the Neanderthals, who seem to have had varying attitudes to the burial and treatment of their dead2260616272, not have an equally complex attitude towards cannibalism?”

    From Assessing the calorific significance of episodes of human cannibalism in the Palaeolithic (2017) · cites this paper as [60]

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Research works printed but not linked: 40

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Authors
Rendu, W., Beauval, C., Crevecoeur, I., Bayle, P., Balzeau, A., Bismuth, T., Bourguignon, L., Delfour, G., Faivre, J.-P., Lacrampe-Cuyaubère, F., Tavormina, C., Todisco, D., Turq, A., & Maureille, B.
Affiliations
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • Archéosphère, F-33300 Bordeaux, France;
  • de la Préhistoire à l’Actuel: Culture, Environnement et Anthropologie, UMR 5199, Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication (MCC), CNRS, Université de Bordeaux, F-33400 Talence, France;
  • Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (ES)
  • Identités et Différenciation de l'Environnement des Espaces et des Sociétés (FR)
ORCID
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publisher
National Academy of Sciences
Published
2013-12-16
Volume
111
Issue
1
Pages
81-86
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
DOI
10.1073/pnas.1316780110
PMC
PMC3890882
OpenAlex
W2065947116
Cited by
223
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 37 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 33 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 1
FWCI
62.28
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Anthropology › Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Archaeological and Geological Studies
Keywords
taphonomy, funerary contexts, rapid burial
MeSH terms
Animals, Archaeology, Bone and Bones, Burial, Fossils, France, Humans, Paleontology, History, Ancient, Neanderthals

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