🔗 Share this article Neanderthals and Early Humans Were Likely Engaging in Intimate Contact, Scientists Propose From Galápagos albatrosses to Arctic mammals, chimpanzees to orangutans, various animals appear to kiss. Currently, scientists suggest that Neanderthals did it too – and might even have exchanged kisses with modern humans. Shared Microbial Evidence It is not the first time scientists have suggested ancient relatives and Homo sapiens were closely connected. In previous studies, researchers have discovered humans and their Neanderthal relatives possessed the identical oral bacteria for hundreds of thousands of years after the two species split, suggesting they swapped saliva. "Probably they were kissing," the researcher noted, explaining that the concept chimed with studies that has found humans of certain genetic backgrounds have bits of Neanderthal DNA in their genetic makeup, revealing interbreeding was at play. Romantic Spin "This offers a different spin on human-Neanderthal relations," the lead researcher commented. Writing in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior, Brindle and colleagues report how, to investigate the evolutionary origins of kissing, they first had to develop a definition that was not restricted by how people kiss. Describing Intimate Contact "Previously there were some efforts to define a kiss, but it's very much been focused on humans, which means that essentially non-human species don't kiss. Now we know that they likely engage, it might just not look from what human kissing resembles," said Brindle. However, she said some actions that resembled kissing were distinct activities – such as the chewing and food sharing, or "mouth contact", seen in aquatic species called certain marine animals. As a result the team came up with a definition of intimate contact centered around friendly interactions involving directed mouth-to-mouth contact with a member of the identical group, with some movement of the mouth but no transfer of food. Research Approach The lead researcher said they concentrated on reports of kissing in non-human species from Africa and Asian regions, including bonobos, chimpanzees and great apes, and used digital recordings to confirm the observations. The researchers then combined this data with details on the genetic connections between extant and ancient types of such primates. Historical Timeline Researchers propose the results indicate intimate contact evolved approximately 21.5m and 16.9m years ago in the ancestors of the large apes. Placement of Neanderthals on this evolutionary lineage suggests it is likely they, too, indulged in a intimate act, the scientists conclude. But the activity may not have been confined to their specific group. "The fact that humans kiss, the fact that we now have demonstrated that Neanderthals very likely kissed, suggests that the both groups are also likely to have kissed," the researcher noted. Evolutionary Significance Although the evolutionary explanation is discussed, the expert explained intimate contact could be employed in reproductive situations to potentially enhance mating outcomes or help choose between mates, while it could assist strengthen connections when used in a platonic way. A separate researcher in the behavior of primates commented that as intimate contact was seen in a wide range of apes it made sense its roots extend far into our evolutionary past, and an examination of various types of kissing among a broader range of animals might extend its origins back further still. "Behaviors that we think of as characteristics of human life, like kissing, are not unique to us if we look closely at different species," he said. Social Aspects An archaeology expert explained that kissing had a cultural element as it was not common to all human groups. "However, as people we succeed or struggle on the quality of our emotional bonds, and ways of promoting confidence and intimacy will have been significant for eons," the professor stated. "This could represent an concept that seems a bit incongruous to our incorrect assumptions of a supposedly aggressive and ancient history, but really it ought to be expected that Neanderthals – and even them and our own species collectively – kissed."