Student Article
Seven Surprising Facts We Now Know About Neanderthals
DNA (noun): The material in cells that carries genetic information.
Fossil (noun): Remains of a living thing from the past, turned into rock.
Neanderthals were ancient humans who lived in Europe and Asia from about 350,000 to 40,000 years ago. Scientists used to think they were just rough cave dwellers, but we now know they were much more complex; they are actually part of our family tree. In fact, their DNA is still in us today! Here are seven things we've learned:
Not just missing links
When Neanderthals were first found over 160 years ago, people thought they were developmentally between apes and humans. Scientists now know they were very close to modern humans. We split from a shared ancestor only about 600,000 years ago.
Adaptive and varied diets
Neanderthals didn’t just hunt big animals like mammoths — they also ate plants, fish, and small animals. They were flexible and ate whatever they could find.
Skilled innovators
Neanderthals made tools using stone, glue from tree sap, and even built wooden spears. They were clever with their hands and minds.
Capable of speech
Scientists believe Neanderthals had voices similar to ours. Their ears and throat suggest they could speak and understand speech.
Collaborative and social
Neanderthals lived in groups and worked together. They helped each other and likely shared food and fire.
Appreciation of art
They used red and yellow colors on shells and collected special rocks. Some scientists think they may have created art or jewelry.
Still with us today!
Though they disappeared from fossils around 40,000 years ago, their DNA lives on in many people today because they had children with modern humans.
© Dr. Rebecca Wragg Sykes / www.historyextra.com
DNA (noun): The material in cells that carries genetic information.
Fossil (noun): Remains of a living thing from the past, turned into rock.