Coastal adaptations have become an important topic in discussions about the evolution and dispersal of Homo sapiens. However, the actual distribution and potential relevance of coastal adaptations (broadly, the use of coastal resources and settlement along shorelines) in these processes remains debated, as is the claim that Neanderthals exhibited similar behaviors. To assess both questions, we performed a systematic review comparing coastal adaptations of H. sapiens during the African Middle Stone Age (MSA) with those of contemporaneous Neanderthals during the European Middle Paleolithic. In both species, systematic use of marine resources and coastal landscapes constitutes a consistent behavioral signature over ~ 100,000 years (MIS 6–3) in several regions of Africa and Europe. We found more similarities than differences between Neanderthals and modern humans, with remaining disparities all in degree rather than kind. H. sapiens exploited a wider range of marine resources—particularly shellfish—more intensively. MSA shellfish-bearing sites are also more often associated with intense occupations on coastal landscapes, and more evidence of complex material culture such as shell beads. In terms of broader ramifications, Pleistocene coastal adaptations are best conceived of as an ‘add-on’ to previous adaptive strategies, complementing more frequently exploited inland resources and landscapes. Still, Neanderthals and modern humans increased their dietary breadth and quality, and added options for occupation and range expansion along coastlines. Potential evolutionary implications of these multi-generational behaviors include higher intakes of brain-selective nutrients as a basis for neurobiological changes connected to increased cognitive capacities, but also greater reproductive success, dispersal abilities and behavioral flexibility. Whether gradual differences between modern humans and Neanderthals stimulated different evolutionary trajectories is a question for future research.

中文翻译：

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Midden或Molehill：沿海适应在人类进化和传播中的作用

沿海适应已经成为关于智人进化与消散的重要话题。然而，在这些过程中，沿海适应的实际分布和潜在相关性（广泛地讲，沿海资源的利用和沿海岸线的定居）仍存在争议，尼安德特人也表现出类似的行为。为了评估这两个问题，我们进行了系统评价，比较了智人的沿海适应性非洲中石器时代（MSA）以及欧洲旧石器时代同期的尼安德特人时期。在这两个物种中，在非洲和欧洲的几个地区，系统地利用海洋资源和沿海景观构成了大约100,000年以来的一致行为特征（MIS 6–3）。我们发现，尼安德特人与现代人类之间的相似之处远胜于差异，其余的差异只是程度而不是种类。智人更加集中地开发了更广泛的海洋资源，尤其是贝类。携带MSA贝类的地点还经常与沿海景观的密集占领有关，并且有更多的证据表明存在诸如贝壳珠之类的复杂物质文化。就更广泛的影响而言，最好将更新世的沿海适应视为以前的适应战略的“附加”，以补充更频繁开发的内陆资源和景观。尽管如此，尼安德特人和现代人类仍增加了饮食的宽度和质量，并增加了沿海岸线占领和扩大范围的选择。这些多代行为的潜在进化影响包括增加大脑选择性营养素的摄入量，以此作为与认知能力增强相关的神经生物学变化的基础，而且还具有更大的生殖成功，分散能力和行为灵活性。现代人类与尼安德特人之间的逐渐差异是否刺激了不同的进化轨迹，这是未来研究的一个问题。