Neanderthal Humans Tutorial Notes

Neanderthal humans He lived in the colder parts of central Europe as well as the milder Mediterranean regions. His average height was 1.65 meters, and he possessed a powerful physique, a prominent and broad nose, a sloping forehead, strong jaws, and a slightly flattened occipital area on his skull. They were more amiable than their ancestors. Compared to earlier hominids, it had a highly developed brain. Their species' extinction was brought on by either the emergence of Homo Sapiens, a more advanced homo, or alterations in the climate. In Germany's Neander Valley, fossils of Neanderthal man were discovered (Gomez-Tabanera, 2007). Subsequently, fossils that looked similar to this one were found in Yugoslavia, Palestine, France, and North Africa. Neanderthals: Our Prehistoric Ancestors An extinct human species called Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) was closely related to contemporary humans (Homo sapiens). For hundreds of thousands of years, they flourished over a wide swath of Eurasia, residing in a variety of habitats from the cold steppes of central Europe to the moderate Mediterranean coast. These hardy individuals showed a remarkable capacity for survival in harsh environments, since they were well-adapted to their diverse surroundings. Neanderthals were physically different from contemporary people. They had a muscular body and stood 1.65 meters (5 feet 5 inches) tall on average. They had a sloping forehead, a slightly enlarged skull with a flattened occipital area, and a pronounced brow ridge. Their large, broad nostrils and strong jaws were probably adaptations to help them warm and humidify the dry, chilly air. Neanderthals diverged from contemporary humans about 500,000 years ago, but they had a common ancestor despite having different physical traits. There was much more to Neanderthals than merely their physical characteristics. There is evidence that they had a highly developed culture and a great ability to think cognitively. They made a wide variety of tools out of wood, bone, and stone, demonstrating a sophisticated awareness of their surroundings and available resources. Neanderthals participated in symbolic activities including burying their dead and making beautiful decorations, according to archeological finds. Their average brain size was larger than that of contemporary humans, indicating a similar degree of intelligence. There is still much to learn and discuss about the destiny of the Neanderthals. They went extinct about 40,000 years ago, right about the time that modern humans arrived in Europe. It's still unknown if interbreeding, competition, climate change, or a mix of factors caused their extinction. But new genomic research has shown that Neanderthals and modern humans did interbreed, leaving a genetic legacy that is still present in the DNA of many modern humans. The naming of the Neanderthal species began in 1856, when the first known fossil of the species was found in Germany's Neander Valley. Since then, a large number of Neanderthal remains have been discovered in western Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. These discoveries have shed light on the physiology, behavior, and eventual extinction of the Neanderthals. Neanderthal research continues to illuminate our own evolutionary past and tell the intricate and engrossing tale of our nearest extinct ancestors.