Secrets of the Neanderthals

Netflix's "Secrets of the Neanderthals" isn't exactly breaking new ground in documentary filmmaking. The familiar troupe of talking heads and sweeping nature shots is present. Yet, there's a certain charm to this BBC Studios production, fueled by a genuine fascination with our extinct cousins.

The documentary hinges on a recent excavation at Shanidar Cave in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. We follow a team of archaeologists, led by the enthusiastic Professor Graeme Barker, as they unearth a remarkably well-preserved Neanderthal skeleton - the first of its kind in the region for over 25 years. This discovery forms the narrative spine, allowing the exploration of Neanderthal life through the lens of this individual.

What elevates "Secrets of the Neanderthals" is its focus on debunking outdated stereotypes. Neanderthals are no longer depicted as knuckle-dragging brutes. The film effectively highlights their complex tool use, elaborate burial rituals, and potential capacity for symbolic thought. This revised image is bolstered by impressive CGI reconstructions that breathe life into these ancient humans.

However, the documentary falters slightly in its pacing. The Shanidar Cave excavation, while significant, can feel drawn-out at times. Additionally, some scientific explanations could have benefited from a touch more simplification for a broader audience.

Overall, "Secrets of the Neanderthals" is a solid and informative documentary. It serves as a timely reminder that our understanding of human prehistory is constantly evolving. While not a groundbreaking masterpiece, it's an engaging watch for anyone curious about our enigmatic ancestors.

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.

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.

I do not understand the point of this documentary.

You learn nothing about Neanderthals.

You DO learn way more than you want about the people studying them.

The weird thing is they don't even bother to ask the questions most viewers might have about the subject matter, much less answer them. Questions like how did they live? What happened to them?

Apparently the filmmakers thought Neanderthals liked to roll around in the mud.... I started laughing about it.

There are some interesting sites they visit (eg beautiful caves) but it is too little too late. The scenery plays second to the scientists roaming around in it.

I seriously don't know why they bothered to even make this. It is boring and uninteresting.

The best part was that Sir Patrick Stewart narrated it.

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.