Podcast Summary: "Who are you calling a Neanderthal?" on Unexplainable by Vox

Release Date: May 5, 2025

Introduction

In the episode titled "Who are you calling a Neanderthal?" the Vox podcast Unexplainable delves deep into the historical and scientific perceptions of Neanderthals. Hosted by Noam Hassenfeld, Julia Longoria, Byrd Pinkerton, and Meradith Hoddinott, the episode explores how cultural biases and scientific misinterpretations have shaped our understanding of these ancient relatives.

Historical Perceptions of Neanderthals

The conversation begins with a light-hearted reference to Neanderthals through the lens of popular culture, specifically citing the familiar Geico caveman commercials. Host 2 remarks, “Neanderthals weren’t less intelligent than early modern humans, or, you know, just Neanderthals weren't stupid, essentially” (03:08). This sets the stage for a critical examination of the longstanding stereotypes associated with Neanderthals.

Marcelin Boulle and the Birth of the "Brutish Neanderthal" Image

The hosts introduce Paige Madison, a science writer whose PhD thesis focused on the perception of Neanderthals. Madison explains, “there's a very strong reason why we tend to think of Neanderthals as these kind of brutish, dumb, lesser Homo sapiens” (03:53).

The episode recounts the story of Marcelin Boulle, a French scientist in the early 20th century, who misinterpreted a nearly complete Neanderthal skeleton. Boulle described the Neanderthal as “hunched over brutes that were so dumb that they couldn't even really stand up straight” (03:08), a depiction that was widely propagated by newspapers and entrenched the negative stereotype of Neanderthals in public consciousness.

Scientific Biases and Craniometry

Host 2 contextualizes Boulle’s interpretation within the broader scientific paradigms of the 19th and early 20th centuries. “When Europeans first got interested in Neanderthal skulls,...people were also getting into sort of craniometry,” Host 2 explains (06:51). Craniometry, the measurement of skull features, was then a prevalent but flawed method used to assert racial hierarchies and intelligence levels based on physical characteristics.

Paige Madison elaborates, “the differences are minuscule, and they are certainly not meaningful in terms of intellect and cognition” (08:16), highlighting that the scientific community erroneously used skull morphology to justify preconceived notions of superiority and primitiveness.

Shifting Perspectives Post-World War II

The hosts discuss how the discrediting of craniometry, particularly after its association with Nazi ideology, initiated a reevaluation of Neanderthal characteristics. Madison notes, “all of these factors kind of lining up that suddenly the earlier ideas about Neanderthals just didn't make as much sense” (10:10). This shift allowed for a more nuanced understanding of Neanderthals, challenging the previously held beliefs of their inferiority.

Contemporary Understanding and Cultural Context

As the conversation progresses, the focus shifts to the present-day implications of cultural context on scientific interpretations. Host 1 poses a critical question: “how do we know if what we think of Neanderthals right now is right or anything is right if we're not sure about the water we're swimming in?” (11:12).

Paige Madison responds thoughtfully, “It's a little bit like holding a mirror up to ourselves” (13:52), emphasizing that our interpretations often reflect our own societal biases more than the subjects of our study.

Strategies to Mitigate Bias in Science

To address these biases, Madison suggests broadening the scope of questions posed to avoid preconceived limitations. “If you find artwork in a cave and you assume that artwork is something that only Homo sapiens have done...you just ask who did this in a more open way” (14:08).

Additionally, paleoanthropologist Helene Rougier offers practical advice: “one of the main things that scientists can do is to look for evidence that doesn't fit what they'll assume they'll find and kind of zero in on that” (14:47). This approach encourages scientists to actively seek out and consider data that challenges their initial hypotheses, fostering a more objective and accurate understanding.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with reflections on the difficulty of completely eliminating cultural biases from scientific research. Host 1 acknowledges, “it feels like easier said than done” (16:19), underscoring the ongoing challenge of achieving unbiased science. The discussion wraps up with acknowledgments to contributors and a nod to future episodes.

Notable Quotes

• Host 2 (03:08): “Neanderthals weren’t less intelligent than early modern humans, or, you know, just Neanderthals weren't stupid, essentially.”

• Paige Madison (03:53): “There's a very strong reason why we tend to think of Neanderthals as these kind of brutish, dumb, lesser Homo sapiens.”

• Paige Madison (08:16): “The differences are minuscule, and they are certainly not meaningful in terms of intellect and cognition.”

• Paige Madison (13:52): “It's a little bit like holding a mirror up to ourselves.”

Final Thoughts

This episode of Unexplainable offers a compelling examination of how scientific interpretations are often influenced by the cultural and social contexts of their times. By dissecting the historical misrepresentations of Neanderthals and exploring strategies to mitigate bias, the podcast encourages listeners to critically evaluate the information presented to them and recognize the underlying factors that shape our understanding of the past.

Produced by Byrd Pinkerton. Edited by Meredith Hodinott with assistance from Jorge Just Mera. Music by Noam Hassenfeld. Mixing and sound design by Christian Ayala. Fact-checking by Melissa Hirsch and Julia Longoria. Special thanks to Brian Resnik for co-creating the show.