Final answer:
Neanderthals and AMH populations both buried their dead with symbolic items, suggesting spiritual beliefs. The replacement of Neanderthals by AMH might have been due to the latter's superior survival strategies, evidenced by advanced tool-making and possibly more favourable demographics. Despite limited insight into their social and cultural values, evidence points to shifts in behavior such as cave use and possible deliberate burials.
Step-by-step explanation:
We know that Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans (AMH) both practiced burial of their dead, which possibly indicates some form of spirituality or religion. Evidence of burials suggests that both Neanderthals and AMH were capable of symbolic thought, as shown by graves that included ornate items and bodies adorned with red ochre and beads. However, the replacement of Neanderthals by AMH populations is thought to have occurred not just due to cultural practices but also due to differences in survival capabilities.
Several hypotheses have been posed to explain the replacement. One theory suggests that modern humans had better survival strategies, including more advanced tool-making abilities, evidenced by the Mousterian tool industry. They may have also experienced lower mortality rates and higher birth rates compared to Neanderthals. This competitive advantage could have led to Neanderthals' dwindling numbers and eventual extinction. While the archaeological record is rich with information on the diet and diseases of early hominins, it tells us less about their social structures and cultural values.
Furthermore, the Upper Paleolithic period indicates a shift in the use of caves, possibly from habitat to ritual or religious gathering sites. While some scientists caution against definitive interpretations of early human behavior, such as funerary practices, due to the similarity of the fossil record with natural death patterns in animals, the possibility of deliberate burials has not been ruled out. The scattering patterns of fossils at sites such as Sima de los Huesos hint at the complexity of these early human practices. It is also important to note that modern humans interbred with Neanderthals, which is reflected in our shared genetic inheritance.