I think it is very likely, yes. While direct proof of their conversations is elusive, their tools and social structures hint at deeper, cooperative communication.
Homo heidelbergensis, or a similar species, is the ancestor that led to the modern human species including Neanderthals, Denisovans, and Homo sapiens. They lived from about 700,000 to 200,000 years ago in Africa, Europe and Asia. Neanderthals branched from them about 440,000 years ago, and Homo sapiens branched about 315,000 years ago.
While it’s tempting to think of Homo heidelbergensis as a silent, primitive ancestor, modern research suggests otherwise. Evidence points to the capacity for complex vocal communication. Neanderthals, who descended from Homo heidelbergensis, carried the FOXP2 gene which is linked to speech and language. Anatomical features like the hyoid bone, also essential for speech, hint at a sophisticated vocal apparatus. But here’s the intriguing part: if they could speak, what did they say? Were they exchanging hunting strategies or telling stories under the stars? The takeaway is that the roots of language likely stretch back much further than we traditionally thought.
For a deeper dive into the evolution of vocabulary in human ancestry, take the deep dive: The Evolution of Vocabulary in Ancient Humans.