Homo neanderthalensis were an extinct human species that inhabited Europe and parts of western Asia from 230,000 to 28,000 years ago. They lived in organized groups of around thirty members in caves, used fire, and buried their dead. Neanderthals had robust skeletons, wide pelvises, short limbs, barrel chests, and large cranial capacities. There is debate around their language abilities and communication systems. While their tools were more advanced than earlier humans, Neanderthals combined different stone types and used various stones for specialized tasks.