Fromย archaeological reconstructions of Neanderthalsย as stooped, hairy and brutish, to โcavemenโ movies, our ancient ancestors got a bad press.
Over the last five years discoveries have upended this unbalanced view. In my recent book,ย Hidden Depths: The Origins of Human Connection, I argue that this matters for how we see ourselves today and so how we imagine our futures, as much as for our understanding of our past.
Six revelations stand out.
1. There are more human species than we ever imagined
Species such asย Homo Longiย have only been identified as recently as 2018. There are nowย 21 known species of human.
In the last few years we have realised that ourย Homo sapiensย ancestors may have met as many as eight of these different types of human, from robust and stocky species including Neanderthals and their close relatives Denisovans, to the short (less than 5ft tall) and small-brained humans such asย Homo naledi.
Butย Homo sapiensย werenโt the inevitable evolutionary destination. Nor do they fit into any simple linear progression orย ladder of progress.ย Homo nalediโs brain may have been smaller than that of a chimpanzee but there is evidence they were culturally complex andย mourned their dead.
Neanderthalsย created symbolic artย but they werenโt the same as us. Neanderthals had many differentย biological adaptations, which mayย have included hibernation.
2. Hybrid humans are part of our history
Hybrid species of human, once seen by experts as science fiction, may have played a key role in our evolution. Evidence of the importance ofย hybridsย comes from genetics. The trail is not only in the DNA of our own species (which often includes important genes inherited from Neanderthals) but also skeletons of hybrids.
One example is โDenny,โ a girl with aย Neanderthal mother and Denisovan father. Her bones were found in a cave in Siberia.
3. We got lucky
Ourย evolutionary pastย is messier than scientists used to think. Have you ever been troubled with backache? Or stared jealously after your dog as it lolloped across an uneven landscape?
That should have been enough to show you we are far from perfectly adapted. We have known for some time that evolution cobbles together solutions in response to an ecosystem which may already have changed. However, many of the changes in our human evolutionary lineage maybe the result ofย chance.
For example, where isolated populations have a characteristic, such as some aspect of their appearance, which doesnโt make much difference to their survival and this form continues to change in descendants. Features of Neanderthalsโ faces (such as their pronounced brows) or body (including large rib cages) might have resulted simply from genetic drift.
Epigenetics, which is where genes are only activated in specific environments, complicate things too. Genes might predispose someone to depression or schizophrenia for example. Yet they may only develop the condition if triggered by things that happen to them.
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4. Our fate is intertwined with nature
We may like to imagine ourselves as masters of the environment. But it is increasingly clear ecological changes moulded us.
Theย origins of our own speciesย coincided with major shifts in climate as we became more distinct from other species at these points in time. All other species of human seem to haveย died outย as a result of climate change.
Three major human speciesย Homo erectus, Homo heidelbergensis, andย Homo neanderthalensisย died out with major shifts in climate such as the Adams event. This was a temporary breakdown of Earthโs magnetic field 42,000 years ago, which coincided with theย extinction of the Neanderthals.
5. Kindness is an evolutionary advantage
Research has uncovered new reasons to feel hopeful about future human societies. Scientists used to believe theย violent parts of human natureย gave us a leg up the evolution ladder.
But evidence has emerged of theย caring sideย of human nature and its contribution to our success. Ancient skeletons show remarkable signs of survival from illness and injuries, which would have been difficult if not impossible without help.
The trail of human compassion extends back one and a half million years ago. Scientist have traced medical knowledge to at least the time of the Neanderthals.
Altruism has manyย important survival benefits. It enabled older community members to pass on important knowledge. And medical care kept skilled hunters alive.
6. Weโre a sensitive species
Evolution made us more emotionally exposed than we like to imagine. Likeย domestic dogs, with whom we share many genetic adaptations, such as greater tolerance for outsiders, and sensitivity to social cues, human hypersociability has come with a price: emotional vulnerabilities.
We are more sensitive to how people around us feel, and more vulnerable to social influences, weโre moreย prone to emotional disorders, toย lonelinessย and toย depressionย than our predecessors. Our complex feelings may not always be pleasant to live with, but they are part ofย key transformations which created large, connected communities. Our emotions are essential to human collaborations.
This is a far less reassuring view of our place in the world than the one we had even five years ago. But seeing ourselves as selfish, rational and entitled to a privileged place in nature hasnโt worked out well. Just read the latest reports about the state of our planet.
If we accept that humans are not a pinnacle of progress, then we cannot just wait for things to turn out right. Our past suggests that our future wonโt get better unless we do something about it.
Penny Spikins is a Professor of the Archaeology of Human Origins at the University of York.
A version of this article appeared originally at The Conversation and is posted here with permission. Check out The Conversation on Twitter @ConversationUS
