Neanderthal

Neanderthal Temporal range: Late Pleistocene 0.13–0.04 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
An approximate reconstruction of a Neanderthal skeleton. The central rib-cage (including the sternum) and parts of the pelvis are from modern humans.
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Suborder:	Haplorhini
Infraorder:	Simiiformes
Family:	Hominidae
Subfamily:	Homininae
Tribe:	Hominini
Genus:	Homo
Species:	†H. neanderthalensis
Binomial name
†Homo neanderthalensis King, 1864
Synonyms[6]
Homo H. stupidus Haeckel, 1895[1] H. europaeus primigenius Wilser, 1898 H. primigenius Schwalbe, 1906[2] H. antiquus Adloff, 1908 H. transprimigenius mousteriensis Farrer, 1908 H. mousteriensis hauseri Klaatsch 1909[3][4] H. priscus Krause, 1909 H. chapellensis von Buttel-Reepen, 1911 H. calpicus Keith, 1911 H. acheulensis moustieri Wiegers, 1915 H. lemousteriensis Wiegers, 1915 H. naulettensis Baudouin, 1916 H. sapiens neanderthalensis Kleinshmidt, 1922 H. heringsdorfensis Werthe, 1928 H. galilensis Joleaud, 1931 H. primigenius galilaeensis Sklerj, 1937 H. kiikobiensis Bontsch-Osmolovskii, 1940 H. sapiens krapinensis Campbell, 1962 H. erectus mapaensis Kurth, 1965 Palaeoanthropus P. neanderthalensis McCown and Keith, 1939[5] P. heidelbergensis McCown and Keith, 1939[5] P. ehringsdorfensis Paterson, 1940[5] P. krapinensis Sergi, 1911[5] P. palestinensis McCown and Keith, 1939[5] P. europaeus Sergi, 1910 Protanthropus P. atavus Haeckel, 1895 P. tabunensis Bonarelli, 1944 Acanthropus A. neanderthalensis Arldt, 1915 A. primigenius Abel, 1920 A. neanderthalensis Dawkins, 1926

Neanderthals (/niˈændərˌtɑːl, neɪ-, -ˌθɑːl/ nee-AN-də(r)-TAHL, nay-, -⁠THAHL;^[7] Homo neanderthalensis or H. sapiens neanderthalensis) are an extinct group of archaic humans which inhabited Europe and Western Asia during the Late Pleistocene. Neanderthal extinction occurred roughly 40,000 years ago with the immigration of modern humans (Cro-Magnons), but Neanderthals in Gibraltar may have persisted for thousands of years longer.

The first recognised Neanderthal fossil, Neanderthal 1, was discovered in 1856 in the Neander Valley, Germany. At first, Neanderthal 1 was considered to be one of the lower races in accord with historical race concepts. As more fossils were discovered through the early 20th century, Neanderthals became characterised most especially by Marcellin Boule as a unique species of underdeveloped human. By the mid-20th century, human evolution was described as progressing from an apelike ancestor, through a "Neanderthal phase", ending in modern humans. This gave way to the "Out of Africa" theory in the 1970s. With the sequencing of Neanderthal genetics first in 2010, it was discovered that Neanderthals interbred with modern humans.

Neanderthal anatomy is characterised by namely a long and low skull, a heavy and rounded brow ridge (supraorbital torus), an occipital bun at the back of the skull, 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, as well as genetic drift when populations collapsed during glacial periods. Neanderthals would have also been effective sprinters. Neanderthal specimens vary in height from 147.5 to 177 cm (4 ft 10 in to 5 ft 10 in), with average male dimensions of maybe 165 cm (5 ft 5 in) and 75 kg (165 lb). While Neanderthal brain volume averaged higher than any living population — 1,640 cc (100 cu in) for males and 1,460 cc (89 cu in) for females — their brain organisation differed from modern humans in areas related to cognition and language, which could explain the comparative simplicity of Neanderthal behaviour compared to Cro-Magnons in the archaeological record.

Neanderthals maintained a low population and suffered inbreeding depression, which may have impeded their ability to progress technologically. They produced Mousterian stone tools (a Middle Palaeolithic industry), maintained and maybe created fire, and possibly wore blankets and ponchos. They predominantly ate whatever was abundant close to home, usually big game as well as plants and mushrooms. Neanderthals were frequently victims of major physical traumas and animal attacks. Examples of Palaeolithic art have been inconclusively attributed to Neanderthals, namely possible ornaments made from bird claws and feathers; collections of unusual objects including crystals and fossils; and engravings. Neanderthals uncommonly buried their dead, but this is not indicative of a religious belief of an afterlife.