The evolutionary relevance of neoteny, the concept that adults displaying youthful proportions evoke caregiving instincts, has frequently been questioned. The biological roots of the problem lead to the expression of age, sex and inheritance in size and shape. Formalist interpretations, however, can be misleading as the idea itself is anthropocentric. This weakness (in natural science) makes historic reflections on neoteny more interesting in material culture shaped by humans themselves. Archaeozoological examples include animal breeds, especially dogs. The attraction to "youthful" proportions also seems to have been exploited in both the creative and applied arts. Researchers of this eminently interdisciplinary subject cannot ignore overarching questions regarding complex and mutual interactions between nature and culture.