Student Article
Seven Surprising Facts We Now Know About Neanderthals
Hominin (noun): A member of the human family tree, including extinct relatives.
Adhesive (noun): A substance used to stick things together.
Symbolic (adjective): Representing something else, often with deeper meaning.
Extinct (adjective): No longer existing.
Interbreeding (verb): Breeding between different groups or species.
Neanderthals, once thought to be primitive “cavemen,” were in fact a diverse and intelligent group of hominins who lived across Europe and parts of Asia for over 300,000 years. According to archaeologist Dr. Rebecca Wragg Sykes, new findings have completely changed how we view their place in human history.
Neanderthals weren’t evolutionary “dead ends.” Genetic studies now show that modern humans carry traces of Neanderthal DNA. Neanderthals emerged roughly 350,000 years ago, and although they vanished from the archaeological record around 40,000 years ago, they didn’t truly disappear. Here are seven major insights that reshape our understanding of them:
Not just missing links
When first discovered in the 1800s, Neanderthals were believed to be less evolved or even closer to apes. However, they split from our common ancestor only about 600,000 years ago — long after early humans had begun making tools.
Adaptive and varied diets
Far from being stuck hunting mammoths, Neanderthals adapted to many environments. Their meals included deer, birds, tortoises, fish, crustaceans, and a wide variety of plants such as roots and fruits — some of which required cooking.
Skilled innovators
Neanderthals used advanced tools and made adhesives from birch tar and even mixtures of beeswax and pine resin. They crafted spears, digging sticks, and possibly even shell tools — demonstrating creativity and adaptability over time.
Capable of speech
Anatomical evidence shows they could produce vocal sounds similar to ours, and their inner ears were tuned to the same frequency range as human speech. Though their version of the FOXP2 gene (linked to language) was slightly different, they likely shared stories and knowledge.
Collaborative and social
The idea that Neanderthals were violent and brutish has been challenged. Archaeological evidence suggests cooperative hunting, resource sharing, and strong group bonds — possibly more like bonobos than chimps.
Appreciation of art
Neanderthals collected colorful minerals, decorated shells, and etched designs into bones. These actions point to symbolic thinking, suggesting a capacity for culture, art, and perhaps even early forms of storytelling or ritual.
Still with us today!
Perhaps the most surprising fact is that Neanderthals are not entirely extinct. DNA analysis reveals that interbreeding occurred as far back as 200,000 years ago. Today, most humans carry some Neanderthal genes.
Dr. Wragg Sykes reminds us that Neanderthals were not static or simple. They evolved over time, used complex tools, communicated, and left a lasting legacy that still exists in our genes.
© Dr. Rebecca Wragg Sykes / www.historyextra.com
Hominin (noun): A member of the human family tree, including extinct relatives.
Adhesive (noun): A substance used to stick things together.
Symbolic (adjective): Representing something else, often with deeper meaning.
Extinct (adjective): No longer existing.
Interbreeding (verb): Breeding between different groups or species.