When you look around, you’ll see many smart animals, but humans are unique. However, this wasn’t always the case. Around 50,000 years ago, we shared the Earth with at least three other human species. While Denisovans and Homo floresiensis, often called “Hobbits,” left little behind for us to study, Neanderthals have a much richer story to tell.
The first scientists who studied Neanderthal skulls were confused until Charles Darwin introduced his theory of evolution. This theory suggested that all living things, including modern humans, descended from earlier species. Many scientists thought Neanderthals were our primitive ancestors. Some even tried to label them as less intelligent, calling them Homo stupidus. Others imagined them as cartoonish cavemen, believing they were a failed branch of evolution.
So, where do Neanderthals fit in our history? Were they less intelligent, or did they have abilities we haven’t fully appreciated? And if they were smart, why did they disappear after meeting us? Did they really vanish?
If you were in a subway car with both humans and a Neanderthal, you might not notice much difference. Neanderthals had some distinct features like a prominent brow ridge, a large nose, shorter forearms and shins, and strong muscles. These traits helped them survive in colder climates, while our ancestors were adapted to warmer areas. Despite these differences, when Neanderthals and our ancestors first met, they would have seen something familiar in each other.
Neanderthal life was tough. Hunting often meant facing dangerous animals like woolly mammoths and rhinoceroses. Their fossils show healed broken bones and signs of blindness, indicating they cared for their sick and injured. They even buried their dead, suggesting they had social structures and cared for one another. While we don’t know if this was due to spirituality or religion, Neanderthals were certainly not violent brutes; they were caring and social beings.
By 250,000 years ago, Neanderthals in Europe had brains as large as or larger than ours. But having a big brain doesn’t necessarily mean being the most advanced. Neanderthals used tools about 200,000 years ago, and their technology evolved over time, though it wasn’t as advanced as ours. It’s not just brain size that matters; it’s how you use it.
Our ability for symbolic thinking, social interaction, technological innovation, and complex language sets us apart. We share the same version of the FOXP2 gene, important for language, but that gene alone doesn’t make a great communicator. Neanderthal brain structures suggest they could speak, and their throat anatomy indicates they could produce more than basic sounds. They likely communicated using sounds, musical tones, and rhythmic movements.
Around 50,000 years ago, Neanderthals met modern humans. For several thousand years, our territories overlapped until Neanderthals disappeared about 40,000 years ago. Were we allies or rivals? Our species had more advanced weapons, and while Neanderthals lived in isolated groups, we exchanged technology and traded among tribes. This innovation and competition for resources may have contributed to their decline. Additionally, Neanderthal populations were small and spread out, leading to inbreeding and reduced genetic diversity.
Before they vanished, Neanderthals left a significant legacy. In 2010, scientists sequenced the Neanderthal genome from ancient remains and compared it to modern human genomes. They found that 1 to 4 percent of the genes in all living humans outside sub-Saharan Africa came from Neanderthals. Those with sub-Saharan ancestry have no Neanderthal DNA, indicating that Homo sapiens interbred with Neanderthals after leaving Africa, spreading that DNA as we settled across the globe.
Thanks to genetic testing, some people have discovered they have more Neanderthal DNA than others, suggesting that Neanderthals were indeed intelligent and remarkable. So, 50,000 years ago, we coexisted with other humans. While we haven’t fully solved the mystery of their disappearance, we know they live on in us, the only humans left. The 7.5 billion of us alive today share more than just distant ancestry; we are more connected than we might think.
This story is part of a special series about our species: where we came from, how we’re all connected, and where we’re going. If you haven’t already, check out part 1 to explore the mysterious path of our family tree. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any of our videos.
Research the key events in Neanderthal history and create a timeline. Include their emergence, major developments, interactions with Homo sapiens, and eventual disappearance. Use images and brief descriptions to make your timeline visually appealing and informative.
Divide into two groups, one representing Neanderthals and the other representing modern humans. Prepare arguments for a debate on who was better adapted to survive during the Ice Age. Consider factors like tools, social structures, and environmental adaptations.
Explore how Neanderthals might have communicated through art and music. Create your own cave paintings or musical compositions using materials available to Neanderthals. Discuss how these forms of expression might have helped them communicate and bond.
Research the Neanderthal genome and its impact on modern humans. Create a presentation on how Neanderthal DNA influences traits in people today. Consider health, physical characteristics, and any advantages or disadvantages.
Learn about the survival skills Neanderthals used, such as tool-making and fire-starting. Try your hand at creating simple tools using stones and other natural materials. Discuss how these skills were crucial for Neanderthal survival and what we can learn from them today.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Look around and you’ll meet some pretty smart animals, but there’s no species quite like us. However, that wasn’t always the case. As recently as 50,000 years ago, we shared the planet with at least three other human species. Denisovans and Homo floresiensis, often referred to as “Hobbits,” didn’t leave much behind for us to learn about them, but Neanderthals are a different story—a richer story.
The first people to examine Neanderthal skulls were puzzled until Charles Darwin published his theory of evolution. Like every living thing, modern humans must have descended from an earlier species, and many scientists believed Neanderthals fit that description: our primitive, slightly less advanced ancestor. Ernst Haeckel even attempted to name them Homo stupidus. Other scientists had different ideas, reconstructing skeletons to resemble cartoon cavemen, insisting that Neanderthals were a failed evolutionary branch.
So, where do Neanderthals fit in the human story? Were they less intelligent than we are, or were they more capable than we give them credit for? And if they were intelligent, why did they disappear after encountering us? Did Neanderthals really vanish?
If you were sharing a subway car with a group of humans and a Neanderthal, you might not be able to tell them apart. However, there were some differences: a prominent brow ridge, a large nose, shorter forearms and shins, and robust muscles. These features were adaptations to life in colder climates, while our ancestors were built for warmer environments. Our bodies are different, but similar enough that when Neanderthals and our species first met, we would have seen something familiar.
Neanderthal life had its challenges, as hunting often meant facing woolly mammoths and rhinoceroses. Their fossil remains show healed broken bones and even signs of blindness, indicating that Neanderthal tribes cared for their sick and injured. They also buried their dead, suggesting a level of social structure and care. We don’t know if this was due to spirituality or religion, but Neanderthals were definitely not violent brutes; they were caring and social.
By 250,000 years ago, there were Neanderthals in Europe with brains as large or larger than ours. However, having a big brain doesn’t necessarily equate to being the most advanced. Neanderthals used tools about 200,000 years ago, and their technology evolved over time, but it wasn’t as advanced as that of modern humans. It’s not just the size of the brain that matters; it’s how you use it.
Our ability for symbolic thinking, social interaction, technological innovation, and complex language sets us apart. We share the same version of the FOXP2 gene, essential for language, but that gene alone doesn’t make for a great communicator. The shape of Neanderthal brains suggests they had structures important for speech, and their throat anatomy indicates they could produce more than just basic sounds. They likely communicated through a combination of sounds, musical tones, and rhythmic movements.
Around 50,000 years ago, Neanderthals encountered modern humans. For several thousand years, our ranges overlapped until Neanderthals suddenly disappeared about 40,000 years ago. Were we allies or rivals? Our species had more advanced weapons, and while Neanderthals lived in isolated groups, we exchanged technology and traded among tribes. This innovation and competition for resources may have contributed to their decline. Additionally, Neanderthal populations were likely small and dispersed, leading to inbreeding and reduced genetic diversity.
Before they vanished, Neanderthals left us a significant legacy. In 2010, the Neanderthal genome was sequenced from ancient remains and compared to modern human genomes. It was found that 1 to 4 percent of the genes from all living humans outside sub-Saharan Africa came from Neanderthals. Those with sub-Saharan ancestry have no Neanderthal DNA, indicating that Homo sapiens interbred with Neanderthals after leaving Africa, spreading that DNA as we settled across the globe.
Thanks to genetic testing, I discovered that I have more Neanderthal DNA than 70% of people, which suggests that Neanderthals were indeed intelligent and remarkable. So, 50,000 years ago, we coexisted with other humans. While we haven’t fully solved the mystery of their disappearance, we know they live on in us, the only humans left. The 7.5 billion of us alive today share more than just distant ancestry; we are more connected than we might think.
Stay curious!
This video is part of our special series about the story of our species: where we came from, how we’re all connected, and where we’re going. If you haven’t already, check out part 1 to retrace the mysterious path of our family tree. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any of our videos.
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This version removes informal language and maintains a more neutral tone while preserving the core content.
Neanderthals – An extinct species of humans who lived in Europe and parts of Asia until about 40,000 years ago. – Neanderthals were skilled hunters and used tools made from stone and wood.
Evolution – The process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth. – The evolution of mammals from reptiles took millions of years.
Ancestors – Organisms from which others have descended, often referring to early humans or other species in a lineage. – Our ancestors adapted to various environments, which helped them survive and evolve.
Intelligence – The ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills, often observed in humans and some animals. – The intelligence of dolphins is evident in their complex social behaviors and communication skills.
Technology – The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry and everyday life. – The development of fire-making technology was a significant advancement for early humans.
Communication – The exchange of information between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior. – Communication among early humans was crucial for coordinating hunting and sharing resources.
Genetics – The study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics. – Genetics helps scientists understand how traits are passed from parents to offspring.
Extinction – The state or process of a species, family, or larger group being or becoming extinct. – The extinction of the dinosaurs is believed to have been caused by a massive asteroid impact.
Fossils – The preserved remains or impressions of organisms that lived in the past, found in sedimentary rock. – Fossils provide important evidence about the history of life on Earth.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – The history of ancient civilizations reveals how early humans adapted to their environments.
