| Authors | Organisations | Keywords |
|---|---|---|
| Dustin Welper | Neanderthal Museum | Neanderthals, Human identity, Public research |
Last year, we launched a call to engage citizens interested in conducting research alongside us. At the heart of our interdisciplinary research project at Erasmus University Rotterdam (funded by NWO: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek) was the question of what studying Neanderthals could teach us about our own humanity. Together with the public, we aimed to explore how understanding "being human" changes when we learn more about other forms of humans. Given our focus as the Neanderthal Museum, it was natural for us to concentrate on one of our extinct relatives.
Overwhelming Response and Diverse Participation
The response to our call for collaborating on an exciting topic with researchers was overwhelming. The 20 spots for the citizen participation initiative "Paleo Experts" filled up quickly. Respondents ranged from a 14-year-old student more interested in paleontology than philosophy to a 72-year-old retiree.
Challenging Assumptions and Broadening Perspectives
Early on, it became clear to our museum team that we were dealing with genuine experts. Instead of settling for basic archaeological knowledge, our participants posed specific and highly scientific questions: "How exactly does this method work?" or "What further conclusions can be drawn from DNA analyses?" The Paleo Experts were eager for detailed insights.
Active Engagement and Critical Dialogue
During sessions led by doctoral candidates Susan Peeters and Karel Kuipers, the Paleo Experts actively contributed to discussions. It became evident that the research questions formulated by Karel and Susan were not easy to answer, and that citizens could make significant contributions. They expanded researchers' perspectives and injected fresh viewpoints into the scientific discourse. Their critical feedback compelled us to challenge entrenched narratives and rethink our scientific approaches.
The discussion on encounters between Neanderthals and modern humans was particularly eye-opening.
Revisiting Historical Encounters
The discussion on encounters between Neanderthals and modern humans was particularly eye-opening. Initially, as a former museum educator, I believed these encounters were peaceful. However, some Paleo Experts disagreed, citing historical comparisons and fictional narratives suggesting that maintaining distance might have been prudent during initial encounters. This cautious stance did not stem from archaic stereotypes about Neanderthals but rather mirrored contemporary fears of the unfamiliar. This discussion prompted us to reassess our idealized view of Neanderthals and acknowledge the potential biases in our depiction of life 50,000 years ago.
Enriching Archaeological Understanding
While archaeological evidence is central to our research, the interpretation of these findings—the very shaping of history—is enriched and challenged by the critical inquiries of the Paleo Experts.
