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Who Are Newrdethals

Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) were an extinct species of archaic humans that lived in Eurasia from about 430,000 to 40,000 years ago, characterized by their stocky build and sophisticated behaviors, including tool-making and burial practices. They shared a common ancestor with modern humans and coexisted and interbred with Homo sapiens, resulting in a genetic legacy present in non-African populations today. The reasons for their extinction are debated, likely involving climate change and competition with Homo sapiens.

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15 views2 pages

Who Are Newrdethals

Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) were an extinct species of archaic humans that lived in Eurasia from about 430,000 to 40,000 years ago, characterized by their stocky build and sophisticated behaviors, including tool-making and burial practices. They shared a common ancestor with modern humans and coexisted and interbred with Homo sapiens, resulting in a genetic legacy present in non-African populations today. The reasons for their extinction are debated, likely involving climate change and competition with Homo sapiens.

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ms246singh
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© © All Rights Reserved
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An excellent follow-up question!

Neanderthals are our closest extinct human relatives and a


fascinating species in the story of human evolution.

🧍 Who Were the Neanderthals?


Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) were an extinct species of archaic humans who lived
across Eurasia, ranging from Western Europe to Central and Western Asia.
●​ When they lived: They have a long history, first emerging about 430,000 years ago and
becoming extinct around 40,000 years ago.
●​ Where they lived: Their range was vast, spanning Europe and parts of Asia, particularly
during the Ice Ages.

🧠 Physical and Behavioral Characteristics


Often unfairly portrayed as primitive "cavemen," Neanderthals were intelligent, sophisticated,
and highly adapted to their challenging environments:
Category Description
Body Build Stocky and muscular; shorter, with a broad
chest and shorter limbs. This was an adaptation
to cold climates, helping to conserve body heat
(Bergmann's rule).
Cranium & Face They had a long, low skull (compared to the
high, globular skull of Homo sapiens), a
distinctive prominent brow ridge, and a large,
wide nose, likely for humidifying and warming
cold, dry air.
Brain Size Their brains were, on average, as large as,
and sometimes larger than, modern human
brains, proportionate to their heavier build.
Culture & Tools They created and used a diverse set of
sophisticated Mousterian stone tools,
controlled fire, lived in shelters, wore clothing,
were skilled hunters, and used medicinal
plants.
Symbolic Behavior Evidence suggests they had complex
behaviors, including deliberately burying their
dead and occasionally marking graves with

🧬 Relationship with Homo sapiens offerings.

The relationship between Neanderthals and modern humans is one of the most studied areas in
human evolution:
1.​ Shared Ancestry: Both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals shared a common ancestor,
likely Homo heidelbergensis, which lived roughly 500,000 years ago.
2.​ Co-existence and Interbreeding: When Homo sapiens began migrating out of Africa into
Eurasia, they lived alongside Neanderthals for thousands of years. Crucially, genetic
evidence confirms that the two species interbred.
3.​ Genetic Legacy: As a result of this interbreeding, most people alive today whose
ancestry is primarily non-African carry about 1% to 4% of Neanderthal DNA in their
genome. These genes may influence traits like hair, skin, sleep patterns, and immunity.
4.​ Extinction: The reasons for their extinction around 40,000 years ago are debated but
likely involved a combination of factors, including climate change, competition with the
newly arriving Homo sapiens, and possibly assimilation.
Would you be interested in learning about the Denisovans, another close relative of modern
humans, or what we know about why the Neanderthals went extinct?

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