🔗 Share this article Neanderthals and Early Humans Were Likely Kissing, Scientists Suggest From Galápagos albatrosses to Arctic mammals, primates to orangutans, certain species appear to kiss. Now, scientists propose that Neanderthals also engaged in this behavior – and possibly exchanged kisses with early Homo sapiens. Shared Microbial Evidence This isn't the initial instance scientists have suggested Neanderthals and Homo sapiens were closely connected. Among earlier research, scientists have found modern people and their Neanderthal relatives possessed the same mouth microbe for hundreds of thousands of years after the two species split, implying they exchanged oral fluids. "Likely they were engaging in intimate contact," the researcher noted, adding that the idea aligned with studies that has found people of certain genetic backgrounds have bits of ancient genetic material in their genetic makeup, revealing genetic mixing was at play. Romantic Interpretation "It certainly puts a different perspective on human-Neanderthal relations," the lead researcher said. Publishing in the publication a scientific periodical, the researcher and her team detail how, to investigate the historical roots of kissing, they first had to develop a description that was not restricted by how humans smooch. Describing Kissing "There have been some efforts to describe a intimate act, but it's very much been focused on humans, which implies that essentially other animals do not engage in this. Now we know that they probably do, it might just not look from what our intimate contact resembles," explained the evolutionary biologist. However, she said some behaviors that looked like kissing were something rather different – such as the processing and food sharing, or "mouth contact", seen in fish called certain marine animals. Consequently the research group came up with a definition of intimate contact based on social behaviors involving directed mouth-to-mouth contact with a member of the same species, with some motion of the mouth but no transfer of nutrition. Research Methods The lead researcher said they concentrated on reports of kissing in non-human species from the African continent and Asian regions, including primates, chimpanzees and orangutans, and used digital recordings to verify the observations. Scientists then integrated this information with information on the evolutionary relationships between extant and ancient species of such animals. Historical Origins The team propose the results indicate intimate contact evolved approximately 21.5m and 16.9 million years ago in the ancestors of the large apes. The position of Neanderthals on this evolutionary lineage means it is probable they, too, indulged in a kiss, the scientists say. But the behavior may not have been limited to their specific group. "The fact that modern people engage intimately, the fact that we currently have demonstrated that ancient relatives very likely kissed, indicates that the both groups are probably did engage," the researcher noted. Biological Significance Although the scientific reasoning is debated, Brindle said kissing could be used in reproductive situations to possibly enhance reproductive success or assist in selecting between mates, while it could assist reinforce bonding when practiced in a non-sexual manner. A separate researcher in the activities of great apes said that as intimate contact was seen in a broad spectrum of apes it was logical its roots extend far into our ancient history, and an examination of various types of intimate behavior among a wider variety of species might extend its origins back further still. "Behaviors that we think of as signatures of human life, like kissing, are not unique to us if we look closely at different species," the expert noted. Cultural Elements Another professor explained that intimate contact had a social component as it was not universal to all societies. "Nonetheless, as people we thrive or fail on the strength of our relationships, and ways of promoting confidence and intimacy will have been important for eons," she said. "This could represent an image that seems a bit contradictory to our incorrect assumptions of a rather ruthless and ancient history, but actually it ought to be expected that Neanderthals – and including them and our own species together – engaged intimately."