Down syndrome has always been a part of us

With the discovery of the earliest identified case of Down syndrome ever, it furthers the view that Down syndrome has always been a part of us.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers published findings of an ancient tomb on the Western Coast of Ireland. Prior to the Irish tomb, other teams of researchers had speculated based on various factors on what was the earliest case of Down syndrome.

Prior discoveries of Down syndrome

The picture at the top of this post is of a sculpture from the Olmec civilization from Latin America. The Olmecs existed between 1,500 BC and 300 AD. Based on this and several other figures, with their distinctive facial features and, for some, the flexibility of the poses, scholars theorized that not only was Down syndrome present in Olmec culture, but that it was venerated. The Olmecs worshiped the Jaguar and many of these figures are considered depictions of Were Jaguars, children spawned from the deified Jaguar. According to these scholars, the Olmecs considered Down syndrome a condition closer to being god-like.

One of the most viewed posts on this website is about a portrait from the Renaissance that is considered the earliest depiction of Down syndrome in western civilization. Similar to the Olmec depictions, those with Down syndrome are portrayed as cherubs and shepherds at the adoration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

In doing research for this post, I learned of a far earlier suspected case of Down syndrome. Archaelogists analyzed the remains from a Native American burial ground on Santa Rosa Island, part of the Channel Islands off the coast of California. Though their analysis was not definitive, their examination of the remains led them to conclude the individual likely had Down syndrome. The remains dated to 5,200 BC. An article from teh Journal of Contemporary Anthropology details these cases and all previous known cases extensively and is available at this link.

The oldest known diagnosed case of Down syndrome

The report on the Irish Tomb contains the oldest, most definitive diagnosis of Down syndrome.

The report itself is behind a paywall and requires a subscription. The focus of the report was not on the remains of a child with Down syndrome. Rather, the anthropologists were analyzing the burial tomb for the hierarchy of this ancient civilization.

Fortunately, NPR chose to feature the earliest known diagnosis. And “diagnosis” is correctly used in this instance. Unlike the theorizing based on physical depictions of Olmec sculptures or analysis of skeletal remains of Native Americans, these researchers extracted DNA from the skeletal remains and actually diagnosed a child having Down syndrome … 7,500 years ago, circa 5,500 BC!

To put in context how ancient that is: it is over 5 millennia before the Roman Empire; it is over 2 and a half millennia from the establishment of the first Jewish Temple; it coincides with the first known use of the wheel.

Though sadly, the child is estimated to have died at just six months old, the researchers note something of comfort. The site was a monumental tomb, with many children and adults buried there. And, this child, too, was included in the tomb.

Has human civilization evolved in its care for those with Down syndrome?

The comprehensive Journal of Contemporary Anthropology article has a thought-provoking conclusion after reviewing all then-known instances of Down syndrome in ancient human history:

On the basis of both material culture and skeletal remains exhibiting Down syndrome like phenotypes, and basic logic, it is likely that Down syndrome has been present in mankind for as long as chromosome 21 has existed.

(citations omitted). Beyond Down syndrome likely being a part of our human history for all of time, the Olmec sculptures, the Renaissance portrait, and the Irish tomb further demonstrate that, at least in those cultures, Down syndrome was included, even venerated and adored.

However, for every positive treatment of Down syndrome, the human record has off-setting negative examples. In many cultures, it was commonplace to leave disabled members of the tribe abandoned, to die of exposure or be killed by the animals. Within the lifetime of some of those living with us today, we know of programs here in the United States to sterilize, warehouse, and segregate individuals with Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. These policies formed the beginnings of the Holocaust, with it starting with the systematic killing of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

By comparison to those negative examples, at least in first world countries, life for individuals with Down syndrome is tremendously better. Fewer are institutionalized, with the norm being welcoming the child into a loving home, most often that of the birth parents, but also the homes of foster and adoptive parents. In the social rituals of American culture, very often individuals with Down syndrome are adored, selected as prom kings and queens, and being congratulated for long years of service at their place of employment.

It is also not uncommon for individuals with Down syndrome to be depicted in pop culture movies and t.v. shows as being imbued with a greater wisdom and spirituality, making them individuals to be venerated akin to the Olmec culture sans the chimera quality of were jaguars.

Ancient acceptance

While the quality of life, on balance, has gotten better in how human society treats those with Down syndrome, there remains a lesson from the Irish tomb, the Olmec civilization, and the Native American burial ground: one of simple acceptance.

As detailed at length on this blog, the technology that allowed for the definitive diagnosis of the oldest case of Down syndrome–genetic testing–has been implemented to prevent the births of children of Down syndrome.

Obviously, such a means was not available to the ancients. Instead, nature would take its course, the mother would become pregnant, give birth, and then the ancient tribes would have to decide how to treat this new member who had more obvious needs. In the NPR report, it shares how a chemical analysis of the child’s bones show that he was breastfed, just like every other child born into that tribe. And, when he died, he joined his ancestors in the tomb.

Perhaps if our society began with this default setting of accepting these individuals that have been worshiped, adored, and included for as long as there has been human history our evolution would remain truer to our nature.