In the depths of Shanidar Cave, a remarkable discovery was made during excavations in the 1950s and 60s. Nine Neanderthal skeletons were unearthed, with an additional body found in a later dig. The arrangement of these remains resembled a Neanderthal graveyard, and one individual was even found with a significant amount of pollen, sparking speculation about a grand burial ritual and the possibility of this individual being a shaman. If true, it would suggest that Neanderthals shared empathic characteristics with Middle Palaeolithic Homo sapiens.
However, skeptics have argued that the pollen could have been brought in by animals dragging flowers to their burrows. To solve this mystery, researchers turned to palynology, the study of plant pollen, spores, and microscopic plankton. A new review of the evidence from Shanidar Cave revealed that the pollen clumps found around the grave contained a mixture of species that would not have been in bloom simultaneously. This suggests that the pollen was brought in by a different vector.
So, who could be responsible for the pollen mixtures? The most likely answer, according to the authors, is nesting solitary bees. These bees can accumulate pollen from multiple species if they are foraging different flowers at once. Bee burrows have been found in the less disturbed areas of Shanidar Cave, particularly near the rear wall. The corroded and flattened state of the pollen indicates its ancient origin, suggesting that it was deposited around the same time as the Neanderthals were buried.
Interestingly, bees themselves have been observed engaging in peculiar floral funerals at the hands of ants. However, these mounds of dead bees and botanical material are likely used for storing food or waste, rather than serving as a dignified send-off. While many questions remain about the events in Shanidar Cave, the “Flower Burial” hypothesis is not supported by this latest review.
The significance of Shanidar Cave may lie beyond the debate about flower burials. The tight cluster of emplaced bodies found there is practically unique in the Neanderthal realm, and it raises intriguing questions about their sense of space and place. The authors argue that we should focus on these implications rather than whether an individual was buried with flowers.
The study detailing these findings has been published in the Journal of Archaeological Science.
