2. Neanderthal
Neanderthal are also known as Homo Neanderthalensis,
and is a member of the Human Archaic existed in the
Pleistocene Epoch, two hundred years ago.
They settled in Eurasia, and also had similar archaic
humans in Africa and Eastern Asia.
Their name comes from Germany, Neander Valley, where
they were first discovered.
Research showed that they were archetypal cavemen
3. Contin…
In the late 20th century, Neanderthal were identified to be
morphologically, and genetically different from the
normal living human.
They had a complex interaction with the environment and
used stone tools technology for hunting which aligned
with collecting of local plants and foraging.
Neanderthal survived the glaciation years.
4. First Discoveries
The first discovery was made in 1856 in the Feldhofer
Cave of the Neander Valley by lime workers.
The fossils comprised of a tough cranial vault with a huge
curved brow ridge, without a facial skeleton, and
numerous limbs' bones.
The Fisrt discovery fossils were name H.Neanderthalensis,
which were different from H. Sapeins.
More discoveries were made in the early 20th century in
Belgium, Croatia, France, Hungary and Israel.
5. Classification of Neanderthal
Neanderthal’s ancestors have been dated back to four
hundred and thirty years ago in Pit of the Bones at
Atapuera, Spain.
These ancestors were recognized as H.heidelbergensis or
Archaic H. Sapiens.
The classification between the Neanderthal and modern
man is evident. However, when compared to a wide range
of humans, their variations almost match that of humans.
6. Morphological Traits
Craniofacial Features
The Neanderthal had unique features especially in the
head and facial (craniofacial) traits. Their lower jaw and
skull was different from the modern man.
Although the capacity of cranial of the Neanderthal
seemed the same to that of modern man, their front teeth
protruded more.
The foreman’s mental placed further back than the
modern man.
7. Cold Stress and Body Proportion
The Neanderthal was known to be a cold-adapted human.
They had heavily muscled arms and legs, as well as
broader chests.
Their body proportion was considered an adaptation of
cold stress damages and cold temperatures during their
times.
8. Communication and Other Adaptation
Neanderthal man lacked complex communication such as
the spoken language.
Studies have shown that, Neanderthal lacked vowel
production, vital for spoken language.
However, it is evident that, the use of language was
similar to the modern man, through the study of
interpretation of their behavior.
It is still not evident whether Neanderthal used phonemes
or sound tones.
9. Culture of Neanderthal
The Neanderthal man depended on edible plant food and
meat during winter seasons.
Their hunting tools included sharp wooden spears used to
kill game animals.
Studies from Gilbraltar proved that Neanderthal fished
seals, dolphin, fish, and mollusks in the coastal areas.
Neanderthal have been identified as the first early man to
put on clothes.
10. Art made by Neanderthal
Neanderthal made cave painting and arts such as jewelry
and personal ornaments.
Cave paintings have been identified in caves in Spain,
dating more than 65,000 years ago.
Ladder-shaped painting is an example of cave painting of
the Neanderthal man.
11. Extinction of Neanderthal
Speculations fill the extinction of the Neanderthal on
whether the migration of modern humans contributed or
other external factors.
A recent research associates the dying of the Neanderthal
to the degradation and fragmentation of their habitats
years before the arrival of the modern humans.
