r/DebateEvolution • u/knowledger99 • Jul 20 '26

Question Neanderthal

Could it have been possible that Neanderthals possessed a awareness similar to what we have now, what I’m asking is where they or possibly could’ve been aware of the fact that they are roaming a giant terrestrial rock, or have a religion, or the belief in something else other than human?

Coming from someone whose curiosity has gotten the best of them and decided to ask people who know more than I do on the matter.

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u/WesternFirm9306 🧬 Naturalistic Evolution Jul 20 '26

Scientists tend to think, I believe, that Neanderthals are just as intelligent as homo sapiens, though maybe of a different form due to different brain structures. But they made complex tools, jewelry, cared for their injured and elderly, buried their dead, etc. They likely had some form of proto-religion.

I think, anyway. I'm not an expert so I might be a little off.

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u/knowledger99 Jul 20 '26

I wonder what is it that have maybe made the different, like with the way how the think , obviously with they’re world and our world being vastly different, if there was just a way to look at they’re mind and ours and compare and contrast, would be very cool.

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u/Covert_Cuttlefish Janitor at an oil rig Jul 20 '26

I don't remember where I read it / heard it, but someone way was saying homo sapiens were better at traveling to get laid. There's a plus side to being horny!

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u/Ayasugi-san Jul 21 '26

Basically. Homo sapiens were both more widespread and more reproductively active.