Secrets de Néandertal

This one hour and 20 minute long documentary mixes paleoanthropology with speculation, as do most programs of this type.

I very much enjoyed the depictions of Neanderthal caves, habitats and tool construction . But as soon as a scientist says "maybe..." I tune out the rest of their thoughts, because it's going to be speculation with no basis in scientific fact, merely extrapolations leading to one potential explanation (among many) for their findings. That is not science. Since the program wanted to present speculations about Neanderthal behavior, it would've been much better served to offer several alternate explanations for each speculative conclusion.

Sir Patrick Stewart is far too old to be the narrator for this program. His voice is shot, and it really shows. I was kind of embarrassed for him.

"Secrets of A Neanderthal" presents itself as an intriguing exploration into the lives of our ancient relatives, the Neanderthals. However, while the documentary offers fascinating insights, it falls short in its tendency to present assumptions as facts.

Throughout the film, viewers are bombarded with speculative assertions about Neanderthal behavior, culture, and interactions. While these hypotheses are certainly thought-provoking, the documentary often fails to distinguish between established evidence and mere conjecture.

One of the most glaring issues is the danger of presenting theories as concrete truths, especially when discussing events that occurred over 50,000 years ago. The limitations of archaeological evidence and the inherent biases in interpretation should caution against such definitive claims. Yet, "Secrets of A Neanderthal" seems to disregard this, leading to a potentially misleading and overconfident portrayal of the Neanderthals and their world.

Viewers would be wise to approach the film with a critical eye, recognizing that many of its assertions are, in fact, speculative in nature.

Soooo...neanderthals and denovisians roamed the earth for 300,000 years before home sapiens yet the upwards of 90% of modern invention started right after the middle ages in Europe in the last 600 years. Welp, thank god for Europeans! I would love for thos show to have delved into how the neanderthals lived a bit more.

Seems like i need to meet some rediculois requirements of required character counting quoto mechanism to meet a satisfactory number of required characters that is far too wordy for the review of a dull and exigent netflix mockumentary, so here i am filling a void of time and space and paragraph.

Some of the comments from reviewers are strange in that the reviewers seem disappointed there are assumptions. Of course there are. That's archaeology. I am a post graduate archaeologist and making assumptions is part of the process of interpretation. The modern evidence is showing Solecki's assumptions were partly incorrect and I have no doubt that in 50 years the science will have advanced so that new interpretations and assumptions are made. However, this wonderful documentary is a fantastic introduction to the world of the Neanderthals and what we currently know about them. For instance, it's only in the last 20 years we have established they ate plants. Kudos to the international team that have made these wonderful discoveries and long might they prosper.

If you're curious about Neanderthals, BBC Studio's new documentary "Secrets of the Neanderthals" offers a compelling look at these enigmatic human ancestors. Narrated by the ever-intriguing Sir Patrick Stewart, the doc delves into recent discoveries that challenge traditional views of Neanderthals.

The focus on the Shanidar Cave excavation in Iraqi Kurdistan is particularly captivating. Here, we see archaeologists unearth new evidence that sheds light on Neanderthal behavior and rituals. The documentary also explores intriguing sites in France and Croatia, adding depth to the Neanderthal story.

While some sections might feel like a refresher for those already familiar with Neanderthals, the fresh research and engaging presentation make it worthwhile. However, the film could have benefited from a bit more on the reasons for their eventual extinction.

Overall, "Secrets of the Neanderthals" is a solid documentary that will leave you wanting to know more about our closest extinct relatives. It's perfect for a casual watch and a good fit for anyone interested in human evolution and prehistory. (7 out of 10)