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Kissing: Older Than Humans, Older Than You Think!
22 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Kissing's origins trace back 21 million years, predating human existence.
- The exact evolutionary reason for kissing remains an unsolved mystery.
- Kissing is not practiced universally across all human cultures.
The practice of kissing boasts an incredibly ancient history, predating humanity itself by millions of years. Scientists estimate that lip-touching behavior emerged approximately 21 million years ago among various ape species, suggesting it is a deeply rooted evolutionary trait.
Despite its ancient origins, the precise evolutionary advantage or reason behind kissing remains an enigma. Researchers describe it as an "evolutionary puzzle," noting that it serves no obvious survival purpose and can facilitate the spread of germs.
Furthermore, kissing is not a universal custom across all human societies. A broad study revealed that romantic lip-touching is practiced by less than half of the world's cultures, with its prevalence often linked to the social complexity of a given society.
