Neanderthal communities, long regarded as primitive and less advanced than Homo sapiens, are now revealing more about their social organization and daily life thanks to modern research methods. A recent study, published in the Journal of Human Evolution, presents a groundbreaking finding that Neanderthal societies likely divided some tasks based on sex. This conclusion, drawn from the analysis of 99 incisors and canine teeth from 19 individuals across three different archaeological sites—El Sidrón in Asturias (Spain), L’Hortus in France, and Spy in Belgium—has deepened our understanding of Neanderthal social structures. The study highlights significant differences in the dental wear patterns between male and female Neanderthals, providing new insights into their division of labor and daily routines.
The research, conducted by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), specifically focused on the grooves and spalls (small chips or nicks) found on the teeth of these Neanderthal individuals. These dental features, often associated with the wear and tear of using the mouth as a tool, were common among all Neanderthals, regardless of age or sex. Antonio Rosas, a researcher at the Spanish National Museum of Natural Sciences and one of the lead authors of the study, explains that these grooves are indicative of the habitual use of teeth for tasks such as processing animal hides or chopping meat, similar to how certain modern human populations use their teeth in practical tasks.
However, the most striking discovery was the noticeable difference in the dental wear between male and female Neanderthals. The study found that the grooves on the teeth of adult women were longer than those observed in men. This difference in dental wear patterns led researchers to propose that women and men had distinct roles within Neanderthal communities, with women perhaps engaged in tasks that required more prolonged use of their teeth, such as preparing furs or performing other delicate but labor-intensive activities. In contrast, men may have been more involved in activities such as tool making or perhaps hunting, which were reflected in the different types of enamel damage observed.
Another aspect of the study that sheds light on the division of labor between the sexes is the analysis of the tiny enamel spalls. The research found that male Neanderthals exhibited a greater number of enamel imperfections on the upper parts of their teeth, while females had more of these imperfections on the lower parts. This finding could suggest that men and women engaged in different physical activities that caused wear in distinct parts of the teeth, reinforcing the idea of a division of labor based on sex.
Although it is difficult to pinpoint the exact activities that were designated for each sex in Neanderthal societies, researchers speculate that the division of labor may have resembled patterns seen in modern hunter-gatherer societies. Women, based on the longer grooves found on their teeth, may have been primarily responsible for tasks related to food processing, garment production, and perhaps the preparation of furs, which would have involved significant use of the mouth as an additional tool. This hypothesis aligns with observations of some contemporary indigenous communities where women often take the lead in such tasks. On the other hand, the male Neanderthals, with their distinct enamel patterns, might have been more involved in the retouching of stone tools or other tasks requiring greater physical strength or precision.
While the idea of a sex-based division of labor in Neanderthal communities is becoming more widely accepted, it is important to note that such specialization was likely limited to certain tasks. Almudena Estalrrich, another researcher at the Spanish National Museum of Natural Sciences and co-author of the study, emphasizes that this specialization was probably not as rigid as once thought. Both men and women may have participated in various aspects of Neanderthal life, including hunting large game. This more flexible approach to labor suggests that, much like modern societies, Neanderthals may have adapted their roles based on the needs of the community, rather than strictly adhering to a rigid gender-based division of work.
The findings of this study challenge many of the preconceived notions about Neanderthal societies. For decades, Neanderthals were viewed as somewhat brutish and lacking in the social complexities seen in early human societies. The notion that they may have had a sexual division of labor, which was once thought to be a characteristic unique to Homo sapiens, suggests a level of social organization and cultural sophistication previously underestimated. This discovery, along with other recent studies, paints a picture of Neanderthals as more human-like than we once believed—caring for their sick, burying their dead, and perhaps even exhibiting physical traits such as red hair, pale skin, and light eyes, which were not previously associated with them.
Rosas concludes by reflecting on the broader implications of these findings: “The study of Neanderthals has provided numerous discoveries in recent years. We have moved from thinking of them as little evolved beings, to knowing that they took care of the sick, buried their deceased, ate seafood, and even had different physical features than expected.” The idea that Neanderthal societies engaged in a division of labor based on sex, though not fully proven, adds to this evolving view of Neanderthals as complex, socially organized beings. It is clear that, far from being primitive, Neanderthals possessed a level of social and cultural sophistication that was once thought to be unique to our own species.