Neanderthal

1. Neanderthal • Discovered in Germany in 1856 • Subsequent discoveries in 1864, 1887 (two complete skeletons) 1908 and 1911 – ALL OVER EUROPE • These and other finds showed that the Neanderthals had populated Europe widely from about 130,000 to 28,000 years ago after which they became extinct.

2. The Fossil Record • Neanderthals are well represented • One reason – they are relatively recent apprx. 350,000 (proto) [120,000 – full blown] to 24,000 years ago • Another reason – they buried their dead • They lived in caves

3. Back to Climate • Neanderthals are thought to be a climate adapted hominid species • They must have used clothes because Europe was too cold to survive without them when Neanderthals were there • Different than us • Thicker bones • Prominent brow ridge • Slightly bowed legs • Occipital bun • Larger teeth and jaws • Larger brain case

4. More about their bodies • Large bones indicated they had a very powerful build • Imagine a 12 year old who could probably take on a fully grown homo-sapiens adult • Comparatively short limbs and wide rib cage – likely aided their survival in cold weather

5. Where’d they split off? • All evidence points to a split at the time of homo heidelbergensis • They survived successfully for over 200,000 years • Surprise – that’s significantly longer than our (homo sapiens) run

6. So how’d they do it? • Speech – a hyoid bone was discovered with a neanderthal’s fossil remains • Tool use – many stone tools were found at Neanderthal sites.

7. How’d they do it (cont.)? • There is also evidence of the use of many wooden tools (they don’t preserve as well) • Their stone tools indicate that spears would have needed heavy wooden shafts (possibly fire treated for extra durability) • Tools would have been used to make rudimentary clothing out of animal hides • Scrapers have been found that would have helped in this process • Practices very human behaviours, such as forming communities, burying their dead, creating some ‘ceremonial’ art