First Neanderthal with Down Syndrome discovered in Spain: ‘Tina’ skull reveals how prehistoric community cared for young girl

THE discovery of the remains of a Neanderthal girl named “Tina” at the Cova Negra archaeological site in Xativa, Valencia, Spain, has led scientists to conclude that she had Down syndrome and was cared for by a prehistoric community.

The research team’s conclusions, which were published in the journal Advances in scienceare associated with a congenital pathology of the inner ear that was diagnosed thanks to the preserved skull.

The condition is “probably disabling” and is associated with Down syndrome, the study said.

“This child required care for at least 6 years, which probably meant that the mother needed help from other group members to care for the child,” the researchers write.

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The Cova Negra cave in Xativa was excavated several times between 1929 and 2017. Fossilized human remains dating from 273,000 to 146,000 years ago were found there, as well as materials from the Middle and Upper Paleolithic periods.

The remains of “Tina,” as the object was named, were found in 1989 among other Neanderthal skeletal remains, including many of children.

The examination showed that she survived for over six years thanks to the care and support of the support group she came from.

Her condition likely included severe hearing loss and dizziness leaving her unable to move.

“Until now, there has been no known case of a person receiving help, even if they could not return the favor, which would prove the existence of true altruism among Neanderthals,” said Mercedes Conde, a researcher at the Department of Evolutionary Otoacoustics and Paleoanthropology at HM Hospitales and the University of Alcalá, in an interview with the Cadena SER radio network.

“That’s exactly what Tina’s discovery means,” she explained.

The project involved researchers from the University of Valencia, the University of Alcala and the Department of Evolutionary Otoacoustics and Paleoanthropology of HM Hospitales.