User Reviews

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)

I feel like this was an opportunity to show off more hair and makeup skills based on what we know Neanderthals to look like. We keep getting reminded that they were not a stupid species and they had thoughts and feelings, and the hair/makeup/costume team stepped it up to show that much.

I had read that upon meeting homo sapiens, that that the Neanderthals were actually a bit more advanced than they were, and had already established a way of life that involved jewellery, for example. Neanderthals were creative, and found ways to adorn themselves, and showed humans how to emulate what they knew.

Instead, this documentary shows a rather polished-looking group of homo sapiens coming into contact with Neanderthals, who look like they've all had baths and their clothes laundered before arriving. What this is suggesting in this documentary is that humans may have been a bit more refined. But is this true? This contradicts what other archaeologists have found.

"We all carry Neanderthal DNA" is also not true. This is true for those of European descent, but not African, Asian, or Native Americans.

I did enjoy the re-enactments from the actors who were dressed up to show what a typical Neanderthal may have looked like and to see what they were doing. But I really wished there was more of that. They hinted that they had language, and yet not a peep could be heard from the actors. It's as if they were told not to use dialogue together. Maybe the mouth prosthetics made it impossible? I don't know. But it would have been nice to see and hear them making sounds in conversation, rather than motioning to each other, capturing the quintessential stereotype of the caveman/meat head type.

I also enjoyed listening to Sir Patrick Stewart. It gave the documentary some warmth that added to the idea that the Neanderthal people were compassionate and emotional themselves. As for the information? I felt like so much was being held back, just to enhance the information we already know about with computer work and costuming.

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.

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.

This documentary, by the same producers as the recent "Einstein and the Bomb", is a really interesting watch, and I actually learned a bunch of new stuff. As was discussed in the show, we usually consider Neanderthals to be a slur, thinking of them as nothing more than brutish cavemen, but new research shows they were much more complex than originally thought. There's great footage of Shanidar Cave in Kurdistan and the Bruniquel Cave in France, and the facial reconstructions they did based on recovered skeletons was remarkable. I've always found paleontology interesting and am endlessly fascinated by the evolution of mankind, so I definitely recommend giving this doc a watch if you're feeling a little education-minded.

I took this documentary as an update to previous understanding. Science including archeology is always some degree like solving a puzzle with just a fraction of the pieces. When you find new pieces, some old pieces are invalid and yoi have to re-arrange.

I find the connections made to religious practices quite fable, but understood that spirituality as a word perhaps explains some things better. I guess humans and the like have a tendency to symbolic acts, especially in regards to perished loved ones.

This was a very interesting update on the idea of our own ancestry. It also had reflections of humans often lazily putting themselves above others. This trait could well be one of the reasons we prevailed, but it's a trait that's starting to turn against all humanity.

So, the documentary does not go into that much detail scientifically but there are plenty of other documentaries that do.

"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.

There are too many assumptions they regard as conclusions. Not every circle is evidence for religion, and not every corpse in a cave is sacred burial. There could be so many other explanations for things, but it feels the show just chooses the most poetic ones as truth. Someone was found dead in a natural pose in front of a rock? Ahh he must have been put there as a religious ceremony and this is probably the beginning of religion.

If they have better reasons to why the jumped si high for these conclusions, they didn't explain them.

Also, i found the reenactments cringey, and the pacing is off. There are some parts that have modern world updates that are really longer than they should be. No, i don't need a 5 minutes update on the history of iraq just so they can tell me that that archeologist didn't come back to the site...

As an archaeology student I was very disappointed with this film. Like former documentaries I expected to see a film with Neanderthals living, and a voice over. There was no discussion on the various theories about what happened to the Neanderthals, very little in their way of life, and very little footage of them actually living. The point of a historic documentary is to get a feel of that creature's way of life. This film was mostly about the archaeologists' techniques and how they felt, and very little about the actual Neanderthals. I've seen much more informative about Neanderthal on YouTube.

This documentary was awful. You learnt almost nothing about Neanderthals, but heard about the feelings and premonitions of the scientists... I was fast forwarding nonstop. It is a documentary not an action flick, why do they have to use all these slomo shots. The music is also overkill, what you see and hear is not matching. This one hour gave so little information. If you want to see proper documentaries about Neanderthals just go to YouTube. I highly recommend the "The Last Neanderthal" from BBC Earth. This is about the very last Neanderthals who lived in the Gibraltar caves. You actually get to know how they lived and eventually... perished. Yes, it was the climate change, because they had nothing to eat, the last of them died of severe malnutrition. What a huge secret, isn't it?!

While diving into 'Secrets of the Neanderthals', I found myself confronted with a jarring and utterly irrelevant 2-3 minutes of intense war footage from Iraq. The inclusion of such content not only shocked and disgusted me, but raised critical questions about the editorial integrity behind such decisions.

An American voice declares "this is not the United States against Iraq, this is Iraq against the world". This represents a biased view of history from a Western perspective rather than presenting an objective historical account.

The sudden bombardment of war imagery felt manipulative and sensationalist, veering the narrative off course and into the realm of propaganda.

Rather than enriching our understanding of Neanderthal life, it seemed aimed at inciting emotional reactions.

Is this an attempt to rewrite and influence historical narratives or justify past actions? There surely must be transparency and integrity in media storytelling, as sadly, I perceive this segment of an otherwise intriguing documentary as propaganda.

This documentary is replete with assumptions, lacking any concrete evidence to substantiate the religious claims it explores. Initially, it raises an intriguing question about why certain Neanderthals vanished, but disappointingly, this point gets lost and remains unanswered by the conclusion. The presentation hints at a profound exploration but ultimately fails to deliver any robust scientific insights, serving instead a series of misleading assertions.

On a positive note, the production quality is outstanding. The 3D designs are particularly impressive, reflecting commendable skill and creativity from the design team. The artistic rendition of the last face depicted in the documentary stands out as a notable achievement.

Overall, while the aesthetic aspects of the documentary are praiseworthy, it falls short in its factual content, underscoring a significant gap in what it promises versus what it delivers. This piece exemplifies the disconnect between archaeological interpretations and the actual historical pathways, leaving viewers with more questions than answers.

As the Others told I can't hear anything More then asumptioms. Its the Same like the Last documentarys on netflix about human history. They say things conclude from these things to something only to hold up a narrative Even if they used some real historics and anthropologists. They just say hey Look could it be and continue the narrative as it would be real science I'm a Little disappointed that so much Money flows to fiction believes/ critical' thinking and you have the Same as history channel. Or as I mantioned its Like. Ancient apocalypse Form the psych Graham Hancock which is completlie debunked by milo From miniminutemen. I Need to say if you want to sleep Well its slow Pace enough.

Everybody who Wants this to watch for scientific reasons dont Go to Netflix to have a real overview

I Hoped it would be ok but its just fiction maybe thats the thing of Netflix Now for documentarys.

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.