Nearly 40,000 years have passed since the last Homo neanderthalismor Neanderthals, disappeared from sight. Our closest human relative, the Neanderthal, continues to fascinate scientists and enthusiasts alike. anthropological The version of a distant and eccentric uncle, if the uncle had a very long and xenomorph-like skull.

If you’re lacking in knowledge about this ancient species, we’ve put together a collection of facts that provide a glimpse into their rich history, their surprisingly sharp intelligence, and their willingness to eat human flesh (but only when necessary).

Neanderthals were not discovered until the 19th century.

Neanderthals are believed to have appeared in Europe and Asia 400,000 years ago, but it took quite some time for modern recorded history to grasp their existence. It wasn’t until 1856 that a partial skeleton was discovered in the Neander Valley in Germany, and science was able to recognize the species and give it a name in honor of the place where it was discovered. (Some Neanderthal bones, including a female skull, were found decades ago but were later not properly identified.)

Neanderthals may have adapted to cold climates.

Unlike the typical Florida snowbird, Neanderthals were well equipped for cold temperatures. evolved From warmer Mediterranean climates to the harsh conditions of ice age Europe and Siberia over tens of thousands of years. Their distinctive noses are possible; much wider than the others. homo sapiens– can be attributed to the need to warm and humidify cold air before drawing it into the lungs. Their relatively shorter frames (roughly 1.5 meters high) may also have been used to reduce body heat loss in cold conditions.

However, not all scientists agree with this assessment. 2011 paper inside Journal of Human Evolution suggested that sinuses might shrink in cold, making their evolutionary growth questionable; Some 3D reconstructions of Neanderthal faces indicate proportional features.

Despite their fame, Neanderthals were quite intelligent and cultured.

It is common to refer to someone who displays rude, antisocial, or ignorant behavior as a Neanderthal, possibly in reference to their caveman tendency. But this cliché is not quite true. It is true that anthropologists initially dismissed them as “primitive,” but continued Studies have shown that Neanderthals were much more advanced than expected. Their neocortex, piece The part of the brain involved in emotion and cognition was roughly the same size as ours. This species could start fires, care for injured clan members, and even bury their dead. (The last one is especially practical for further research: Buried fossils have a much better chance of surviving for millennia.)

However, it can be said that some Neanderthals were also cannibals.

Nothing undermines the claim that Neanderthals weren’t that “primitive” more than bringing up the unfortunate fact that: evidence of cannibalism. Although Neanderthals generally adhered to a diet of animal meat and plants, some remains have been discovered that are consistent with meat removal and other butchering techniques and have markings indicating consumption of the same species. Scientists say this rarebut and may have been applied only when you are faced with starvation. homo sapiens not exempt from such behavior.

Neanderthals probably could talk, but that doesn’t mean they could.

One of the most enduring mysteries about Neanderthals is whether they had a spoken language; It is impossible to prove this feature with the fossil record. Research finds Neanderthals had at least bone structure consistent With the ability to hear at frequencies that make it possible to listen to speaking voices.

But even though they can both hear and create spoken words, that doesn’t mean they do it. Instead, possible Neanderthals evolved physical features to produce sounds similar to animal mating calls.

Neanderthals probably understood art.

One of the key factors in cognition is conceptual thinking, which can be demonstrated through artistic expression. And although this is not a common sight, evidence Neanderthals had a little Bob Ross in them. Cave paintings and other works of art have been attributed to this genre, although its purpose is unclear. For example, a hyena bone found in France engraved This suggests some sense of significance, but scientists are still not entirely sure whether this choice is aesthetic or coincidental. (No different from modern art.)

Neanderthals were social.

Whether they wanted companionship or just protection from the cold, Neanderthals assembly the settlement of some two dozen relatives. These collectives would likely interact with others to organize resources.

Such coexistence was not always peaceful. Many Neanderthal remains was discovered Broken bones and other traumatic injuries indicate fighting and war. As with other extinct human species, their life expectancy has decreased sharply But Neanderthal groups are also believed to have supported sick or injured members with some form of healthcare, including wound dressings and herbs.

They did not bow.

The hunchbacked Neanderthal stereotype persists, but it’s so much more likely Their posture was better than that of the average desk worker. A nearly complete Neanderthal skeleton found in Israel in 1983 provided data for digital rib cage (sternum and spine) reconstruction in 2018. Not only was the spine straight, but the ribs appeared to provide a larger pair of lungs than those found in humans. .

Neanderthals interbred with modern humans.

Before we go to the proverb the way of the dodoInterbred with Neanderthals homo sapiens (Crossbreeding refers to mating between animals of the same breed, while inbreeding refers to mating between those with similar genetic characteristics.) How do we know this? Between 1 percent and 4 percent of modern European and Asian DNA consists of Neanderthal genes.

Neanderthals also interbred with each other DenisovansHuman ancestors who disappeared about 30,000 years ago and were named after the Denisova cave in Siberia where bone fragments were found. One such sample, analyzed in 2018, belonged to a girl whose father was a Denisovan and whose mother was a Neanderthal.

We’re still not exactly sure why Neanderthals went extinct.

For a resourceful and intelligent species, it is surprising that Neanderthals failed to survive. Some paleoanthropologists believe that despite their adaptability, cold climates are still proven being very challenging, reducing their population in cycles. others believe homo sapiens They may have proved too hostile and cunning, designing long-range weapons that belied the Neanderthals’ stocky, powerful bodies. Or diseases that other people have developed Resistance turned out to be very challenging for the Neanderthal immune system.

You may not be able to pronounce neanderthal TRUE.

saying neanderthal like Nee-AN-der-thall It looks and feels right, but it isn’t. His evident Nee-AN-der-long. Recall that the species takes its name from the Neander Valley: the word in German valley It was “thal” back then but H silent. However, not everyone agrees that words should be pronounced according to their native language. You shouldn’t be labeled a caveman for saying that Nee-AN-der-long.

Read More About Human Evolution and Anthropology: