Neanderthal

Lore & Background

Neanderthal anatomy is characterised by a long and low skull, a heavy and rounded brow ridge, an occipital bun, strong teeth and jaws, a wide chest, and short limbs. These traits gradually became more frequent through the Middle Pleistocene of Europe, possibly due to natural selection in a cold climate and genetic drift during glacial periods. Neanderthal specimens vary in height from 147.5 to 177 cm, with average male dimensions estimated at 165 cm and 75 kg. Their brain volume averaged higher than any living human population—around 1,500–1,600 cc for males and 1,300–1,400 cc for females—but their brain organisation differed in areas related to cognition and language.

Reader's Guide

Neanderthals maintained a low population and suffered inbreeding depression, which may have impeded their technological progress. They produced Mousterian stone tools, possibly wore blankets and ponchos, and maintained or created fire. Their diet consisted mainly of big game, plants, and mushrooms. They were frequently victims of major physical traumas and animal attacks. Examples of Palaeolithic art have been inconclusively attributed to Neanderthals, including possible ornaments from bird claws and feathers, collections of unusual objects, and engravings. They buried their dead, but there is no clear indication of belief in an afterlife. Sequencing of the Neanderthal genome in 2010 revealed interbreeding with modern humans, reshaping understanding of human evolution.

Did You Know?

• Neanderthals interbred with modern humans, as revealed by genome sequencing in 2010.
• The species name Homo neanderthalensis was first proposed by William King in 1863.