Early human's commonly didn't give burial services, it was only till the concept of Religion came into being was burial practiced. One was found to be buried with plant matter, thought to be flowers. So its possible that some concept of grief and burial was created before the concept of Religion, and done purely out of respect.
The earliest evidence of intentional burial practices date back to the Upper Paleolithic period, around 130,000 years ago. Neanderthals are among the first known hominins to have engaged in burial practices. However, it is debated whether these practices were for symbolic or practical reasons.
The discoveries in the Shanidar Cave revealed that Neanderthals had complex burial practices and may have had symbolic beliefs, as seen in the intentional burial of individuals with flowers. This suggests a level of cognitive sophistication and emotional capacity previously underestimated in Neanderthals.
Neanderthals contributed to modern humans in various ways. They are believed to have interbred with early Homo sapiens, passing on genetic traits for immune response and adaptation to different environments. Neanderthals were also skilled toolmakers and hunters, and some evidence suggests they may have had symbolic behavior, such as burial practices.
There is no universal religion in which the neanderthals had. The only evidence for religion whatsoever comes from findings of ornaments in burial sites as well as the cave paintings in Europe and Africa.
NeanderthalS
Neanderthals are believed to have exhibited behaviors such as hunting large game, using tools, creating art, conducting burial rituals, and caring for their sick and elderly. They were also thought to have had complex social structures and communicated with language.
Evidence such as their use of tools, burial rituals, art, and genetic overlap with modern humans suggests that Neanderthals had some cognitive abilities and behaviors similar to modern humans. Additionally, studies have shown that Neanderthals had complex social structures and lived in family groups, much like present-day humans.
=I think that the neanderthals were the first. This is because many philosiphirs found that they had similar funeral rites-such as burial of the body. They also had pictures showing creation of the earth.=
I think the Neanderthals invented "Grooved Ware Pottery" which was found in association with Amud 1 and also at Skara Brae in association with Red Ochre Paint also used by Neanderthal in Burial ceremonies and the evidence is clear that they achieved Neolithic civilization.
The first known case of deliberate burial of the dead is often associated with the burial practices of Neanderthals, particularly the discovery at the Shanidar Cave in Iraq, where remains dated to around 50,000 years ago were found with possible signs of ritualistic burial. Another significant early example is the burial of Homo sapiens in Europe, such as the site at Dolní Věstonice in the Czech Republic, where a burial dated to approximately 29,000 years ago included grave goods. These practices indicate an early recognition of the significance of death and the afterlife in human cultures.
From the places where their fossils were discovered.
Neanderthals are believed to be the first hominids to intentionally bury their dead. Evidence of burial rituals and grave goods have been found in Neanderthal archaeological sites, suggesting a level of care and symbolic behavior towards their deceased.