New Study Suggests Ancient Humans Knew How to Kiss
Research has shed new light on the origins of human intimacy, suggesting that ancient humans were not as unfamiliar with one another's company as previously thought. According to scientists, Neanderthals and early modern humans likely shared a romantic gesture that we often associate with contemporary relationships.
While it is well-known that certain animals engage in behaviors resembling kissing, such as bonobos and chimpanzees, researchers had long debated the definition of a kiss. Dr Matilda Brindle, an evolutionary biologist from the University of Oxford, has now proposed a new theory on how humans developed this behavior. According to Brindle, the team's research indicates that human-like kissing may have evolved around 21.5 million years ago in the ancestors of great apes.
The study focused on examining reports of friendly interactions involving directed mouth-to-mouth contact among primates from Africa and Asia, including bonobos, chimpanzees, and orangutans. The researchers used YouTube videos to confirm these observations and combined this data with information on the evolutionary relationships between living and extinct species of such primates.
This groundbreaking work has significant implications for our understanding of human history, particularly regarding interactions between Neanderthals and early modern humans. Previous studies have revealed that the two species shared a common mouth microbe for hundreds of thousands of years after they split from one another, suggesting saliva exchange was possible.
The research team's findings suggest that kissing could be used in both social and reproductive contexts to strengthen emotional bonds or help choose mates. Dr Jake Brooker, an expert on great ape behavior, believes that the origins of human-like kissing may lie even deeper in our evolutionary past.
Dr Penny Spikins, a professor of archaeology at the University of York, notes that while cultural factors influenced how kissing was practiced across different societies, it remains an essential component of human relationships. The discovery that Neanderthals likely engaged in this behavior should come as little surprise to us, given our increasingly nuanced understanding of their complex social dynamics.
As researchers continue to unravel the secrets of human intimacy and behavior, we may uncover even more surprising aspects of our evolutionary history.
Research has shed new light on the origins of human intimacy, suggesting that ancient humans were not as unfamiliar with one another's company as previously thought. According to scientists, Neanderthals and early modern humans likely shared a romantic gesture that we often associate with contemporary relationships.
While it is well-known that certain animals engage in behaviors resembling kissing, such as bonobos and chimpanzees, researchers had long debated the definition of a kiss. Dr Matilda Brindle, an evolutionary biologist from the University of Oxford, has now proposed a new theory on how humans developed this behavior. According to Brindle, the team's research indicates that human-like kissing may have evolved around 21.5 million years ago in the ancestors of great apes.
The study focused on examining reports of friendly interactions involving directed mouth-to-mouth contact among primates from Africa and Asia, including bonobos, chimpanzees, and orangutans. The researchers used YouTube videos to confirm these observations and combined this data with information on the evolutionary relationships between living and extinct species of such primates.
This groundbreaking work has significant implications for our understanding of human history, particularly regarding interactions between Neanderthals and early modern humans. Previous studies have revealed that the two species shared a common mouth microbe for hundreds of thousands of years after they split from one another, suggesting saliva exchange was possible.
The research team's findings suggest that kissing could be used in both social and reproductive contexts to strengthen emotional bonds or help choose mates. Dr Jake Brooker, an expert on great ape behavior, believes that the origins of human-like kissing may lie even deeper in our evolutionary past.
Dr Penny Spikins, a professor of archaeology at the University of York, notes that while cultural factors influenced how kissing was practiced across different societies, it remains an essential component of human relationships. The discovery that Neanderthals likely engaged in this behavior should come as little surprise to us, given our increasingly nuanced understanding of their complex social dynamics.
As researchers continue to unravel the secrets of human intimacy and behavior, we may uncover even more surprising aspects of our evolutionary history.
. And it's wild that our ancestors and Neanderthals shared the same microbes, which means they probably did share a few intimate moments too 
. It's like, who knew humans were so into kissing 21.5 million years ago? That's even before our grandparents' parents were born! 
I guess you could say human love has been around for ages... in more ways than one 
And with Neanderthals and early modern humans sharing a common mouth microbe for so long, that's like, some crazy level of intermingling going on. Maybe there's more to this whole "kissing" thing than we think... 
! Like, 21.5 million years ago or whatever... I'm just gonna call it ancient love 
. But seriously, this study makes sense. I mean, who doesn't want to kiss their mate and strengthen that emotional bond? 
It's like, a natural human thing to do.
. Like, it could've been a way for Neanderthals to choose mates or show affection 
. And now we're learning that our ancient ancestors were like, totally into social bonding and stuff... it makes me wonder what other secrets they kept hidden 
But in all seriousness, it's cool to see how far we've come (or rather, how long we've been doing the same things) and how our ancestors were like us too 
... like, 21.5 million years ago, that's crazy! who knew great apes were already giving each other smooches 
. but what's wild is that this behavior might've helped 'em choose mates or strengthen bonds... sounds like some ancient Tinder swipes 
think about it, our ancestors were way more intimate with each other than we give them credit for. it's not just about physical attraction, but also about emotional connection and trust. and here's the crazy part - our brains are wired to respond to those affectionate gestures in a way that's still hardwired today 
. it's like, no wonder we find ourselves drawn to certain people, even if we don't consciously realize why. anyway, this study is giving me so much to think about...
i mean, makes sense that kissing would've come up in some form because, let's be real, it's a natural way to show affection & care for each other 
I need to know more about these ancient mouth microbe sharing sessions 
. And can you imagine how awkward things must've gotten when modern humans first met the Neanderthals? I mean, do you try to kiss them or just go with the whole "personal space" thing? 
Anyway, it's all good that we're learning more about our ancient ancestors and their social habits 
It's mind-blowing to think that our ancestors were already showing affection in all sorts of ways – like those cute bonobo moments 
. I mean, who knew we had a common ancestor with chimpanzees doing the same thing? 
) we are.
And can you imagine being able to hug it out with your ancient cave buddy? 
. It's definitely making me think about human intimacy in a whole new way... 