Khaberni - According to a study published in the American scientific journal Evolution and Human Behavior, it is likely that the first exchange of kisses in history occurred about 16.9 to 21.5 million years ago.
According to the study, the first kiss likely occurred between ancestors of the great primates (primates or prosimians are an order of mammals that includes monkeys and primitive monkeys).
The study states, "We have found that the exchange of kisses and kissing is common among all living higher primates, and it is likely that it was also common among Neanderthal man (Homo neanderthalensis), having first appeared in the ancestors of this group approximately 21.5 to 16.9 million years ago."
According to the study, the data obtained support the hypothesis that Neanderthal man and the ancestors of modern humans were exchanging kisses in ancient times.
The journal noted that the study's authors define a kiss as a non-aggressive directed interaction (not associated with aggression or conflict), manifested in oral contact, as well as lip movements or oral apparatus movements without transferring food.
From this definition, it is apparent that kissing occurs among a wide range of animal species, from ants and birds to polar bears, but mainly among primates.
According to the study, kissing represents an evolutionary puzzle because it does not contribute directly to survival or reproduction, yet it carries high risks of disease transmission.
Researchers believe that the emergence of kissing may be linked to post-mating sexual selection, that is, selection that occurs after mating.
In May 2023, a study published in the journal Science found that the oldest historical records of kissing date back to 2500 BC, a thousand years earlier than previously thought.
