What can we learn from Neanderthals?

Professor Penny Spikins, Professor of the Archaeology of Human Origins at the University of York, will be honoured with the Europa prize for her contributions to European prehistory, and the conference will explore issues salient to Professor Spikins’ work.

The lives of Neanderthals have fascinated us since the earliest finds of these ancient humans in the nineteenth century. Discoveries continue to surprise and intrigue us, alternately encouraging us to see our nearest cousins as just like us, or subtly different. 

Over the past few decades our knowledge of Neanderthal lives and behaviours has expanded at a remarkable rate, yet if anything more and more questions have emerged. This session will combine some of the latest archaeological evidence and research on Neanderthal behaviour with a sense of reflection on what this evidence and how we understand it continues to tell us about ourselves. From pressing us to reflect on how we decide what makes us human, how our preconceptions affect our judgements of people, why we fail to live sustainably or the downsides of global connections, we will uncover how Neanderthals help us know what it means to be ourselves. 

Conference presentations will take place over the whole day (6th June) in person, with early career researcher talks alongside invited speaker presentations. Confirmed invited speakers include: 

Prof Chris Stringer, CHER, The Natural History Museum London

Dr Jennifer French, University of Liverpool

Dr Matt Pope, University College London

Dr Silvia Bello, CHER, The Natural History Museum London

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