Neanderthals were a distinct species of hominin that lived in Europe and parts of Asia from approximately 400,000 to 40,000 years ago. They were not classified as great apes but were part of the same family tree as modern humans, belonging to the genus Homo.
Neanderthals were characterized by a unique set of physical features that differentiated them from both modern humans and great apes:
Physical Features: Neanderthals had a robust and sturdy build with a larger, more muscular frame than modern humans. They had a prominent brow ridge, a large nose, and a distinctive cranial shape. Their face was elongated, and they had a receding chin.
Brain Size: Neanderthals had a relatively large brain size, similar to or slightly larger than that of modern humans.
Tool Use: They were skilled toolmakers and used a diverse range of tools, including stone tools and weapons, to survive and adapt to their environments.
Social Structure: Neanderthals likely had complex social structures, lived in family groups, and engaged in activities such as burying their dead, which suggests a level of symbolic behavior.
Language and Communication: While it is challenging to determine the specifics of Neanderthal language, they likely had some form of communication, as evidenced by the development of their tool-making skills and social behaviors.
Hunting and Diet: Neanderthals were skilled hunters who relied on a diet that included both meat and plants.
While Neanderthals shared certain traits with both great apes and modern humans, they were a unique species with their own distinct characteristics. They were not identical to modern humans but were more closely related to us than to great apes.
Genetic studies have shown that there was some interbreeding between Neanderthals and early modern humans when they coexisted in certain regions. As a result, some people of non-African descent today carry traces of Neanderthal DNA in their genomes, which further highlights their genetic connection to our species.