Final answer:
A. True, Neanderthals engaged in cannibalism for ritualistic purposes, particularly associated with death and burial. This is supported by evidence of intentional burials and specific placement of the dead.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is true. Neanderthals did engage in cannibalism for ritualistic purposes, particularly associated with death and burial.
There is evidence that shows that Neanderthals practiced intentional burials and placed their dead in specific manners, suggesting ritualistic practices. For example, the remains found at Shanidar 4 in Iraq show that Neanderthals placed the dead in a flexed position and surrounded them with spring flowers, indicating a belief in an afterlife and mortuary practices.
Furthermore, scholars have studied other cultures that practiced cannibalism for ritualistic purposes. For instance, the Wari' of western Amazonia in Brazil practiced endocannibalism as part of the mourning process, considering it a way of honoring the deceased and transforming them into spirits.