The study suggests that this gesture, often wrapped in romance and mystery, may be far older than modern humans themselves.
According to a recent report, even Neanderthals, the ancient cousins of Homo sapiens, may have shared friendly or affectionate kisses. For scientists, this raises a thought-provoking question: Why do living beings kiss in the first place, especially when it doesn’t appear essential for survival?
Neanderthals were sturdy, sharp minded early humans who lived across Europe and Asia until about 40,000 years ago. They crafted tools, controlled fire, and moved across rugged landscapes with remarkable resilience. Although shorter and more muscular than modern humans, they were our evolutionary kin and we shared not only genes but possibly gestures, habits, and small slices of daily life with them.
The research, published in the Evolution and Human Behavior journal, pieces together what scientists call an “evolutionary puzzle.” By studying kissing-like behavior across animals, researchers uncovered patterns that stretch beyond humans.
Dr. Matilda Brendl of the University of Oxford noted that humans, chimpanzees, and bonobos all engage in this behavior hinting that the habit likely existed in their common ancestors roughly 21.5 million years ago. In simpler words, the kiss did not begin with love, it began with life itself.
Even animals you wouldn’t normally associate with affection, like wolves, prairie dogs, polar bears, and even the elegant albatross, show behavior that falls under the scientific definition of kissing.
Experts suggest several possibilities. It may have begun as a cleaning ritual, a practical gesture among early primates. It might have served as a health-check signal, helping individuals sense each other’s well-being. Or it may have simply been a bond-building tool, strengthening trust and companionship.
Scientists argue that kissing should be understood with a clear lens, not dismissed as a mere romantic pastime, but recognized as a deep-seated behavior woven into our evolutionary story.
