Behavioral Modernity, Neanderthals and Homo sapiens: a Case for Concept Retirement
Journal: Biological Theory
Year: 2026

Recent archaeological evidence is shedding light on the Neanderthals. New discoveries as well as recent reinterpretations of material traces associated with Neanderthals provide windows into their complex cognitive, social, and emotional lives. This article argues that although Neanderthals and ancient Homo sapiens were distinct, the behavioral gap between them, as represented by the archaeological record, is narrower than was previously supposed. Indeed, narrower to the extent that the concept