Neanderthals, scientifically known as Homo neanderthalensis, were a group of archaic humans who lived across Europe and parts of Western Asia from approximately 400,000 to 40,000 years ago, primarily during the Middle Paleolithic period. They are known for their robust build and distinctive morphological features, which include a large middle part of the face, angled cheek bones, and a huge nose for humidifying and warming cold, dry air. Their skeletal remains suggest they were adapted to a cold climate. Neanderthals were skilled hunters of large animals and also used a variety of stone tools; they were capable of controlling fire, lived in shelters, and occasionally made symbolic or ornamental objects. There is evidence to suggest that they had a complex social structure and cared for the injured and elderly. Genetic studies have revealed that Neanderthals interbred with ancestors of modern humans, with a small percentage of Neanderthal DNA present in non-African populations today, indicating a complex relationship and an overlap of several thousand years between Neanderthals and modern humans before Neanderthals became extinct.
Geneticist Joshua Akey states that modern humans and Neanderthals interacted for a period of 200,000 years. New genetic research reveals extensive interbreeding and longstanding interactions…
A new Netflix documentary, “Secrets of the Neanderthals,” has reconstructed the face of a 75,000-year Neanderthal Woman, providing new insights into the life and burial…
A genetic study of a German archaeological site reveals that modern humans lived in Northern Europe 45,000 years ago, overlapping with Neanderthals, and altering our…
Analysis of tools that are 40,000 years old has revealed a surprisingly sophisticated level of construction. A team of researchers has found that Neanderthals crafted…
Contrary to previous beliefs, significant advancements in stone tool technology emerged after, not before, Homo sapiens spread across Eurasia, marking a complex evolutionary journey. A…
The arrival of Homo sapiens in cold northern latitudes took place several thousand years before Neanderthals disappeared in southwest Europe. The three published studies describe…
Finds in Eastern Germany indicate that Neanderthals accumulated large quantities of meat and fat, or gathered in bigger groups for the consumption of elephants. New…
A new paper in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution, published by Oxford University Press, finds that genetic material from Neanderthal ancestors may have contributed…
The Nesher Ramla Homo, an archaic hominin group found in Israel, reveals a complex intermingling of Eurasian and African hominins 140,000 years ago, altering perceptions…
Neanderthals knew how to control fire and used it to cook food. Researchers have learned about their habits and diet from the traces found near…
A new study published in the journal Science by an international team reveals that historical fluctuations in atmospheric CO2 levels and the subsequent alterations in climate…
Similar to contemporary humans, Neanderthals crafted and utilized bone tools for their daily needs. Were anatomically modern humans the only ones who knew how to…
Finger marks on a cave wall in France were created prior to the arrival of Homo sapiens in the region. According to a recent study…
Dupuytren’s disease, a hand disorder common among Northern Europeans, is found to have genetic links to Neanderthals, according to a study in Molecular Biology and…
Many men in northern Europe over the age of 60 suffer from the so-called Viking disease, which means that the fingers lock in a bent…
Recent scientific findings have revealed that Neanderthal DNA makes up between 1 and 4% of the genome in contemporary humans descended from ancestors who left…
An international group of researchers, led by the University of Southampton, has offered a fascinating look into the hunting strategies and dietary habits of Neanderthals…
A study by University College London researchers discovered that humans inherited genetic material from Neanderthals, affecting nose shape. The gene responsible for a taller nose…