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Many people still hold false beliefs about Neanderthals, one of which is that they were primitive and unintelligent. This myth has persisted so long that 'Neanderthal' has come to mean an uncultured and dim-witted person. In fact, they were nearly given the name Homo stupidus (“the stupid man”).
We now understand that Neanderthals were just as intelligent as modern humans. But that's just one of the many shocking discoveries we've made about them. Keep reading to uncover more amazing revelations.
10. They Walked on Two Legs
Neanderthals have long been portrayed as hunched, ape-like beings, a misconception that has since been debunked. In reality, Neanderthals walked upright, possibly with even better posture than modern humans. This inaccurate portrayal can be traced back to Marcellin Boule, who speculated that Neanderthals were the missing link between humans and other great apes.
Through advanced computer simulations of a Neanderthal skeleton, scientists confirmed that Neanderthals walked upright. They observed that the curvature of the neck and lower spine pointed to a vertical posture. If their spines had been straight, as once believed, they would have walked with a hunch.
Further studies revealed that wear patterns on the Neanderthal skeleton’s hips supported the notion of an upright stance. The positioning of the sacrum (the bone between the hip bones) mirrored that of Homo sapiens, a clear sign that Neanderthals must have stood and walked in an upright position.
9. Non-Africans Carry Neanderthal DNA
Around 70,000 years ago, early Homo sapiens began migrating out of Africa. At that time, they coexisted with two other human species: Neanderthals and Denisovans. As Homo sapiens ventured into Eurasia, they encountered Neanderthals and interbred with them.
Today, the descendants of Homo sapiens (such as Asians and Europeans) carry some Neanderthal genes. Research has revealed that the average DNA of Asians and Europeans contains about two percent Neanderthal material. Sub-Saharan Africans, however, have minimal to no Neanderthal DNA because their ancestors never left Africa and didn't interbreed with Neanderthals.
Homo sapiens interbred with both Neanderthals and Denisovans due to their close genetic ties. All three species share a common ancestor in Homo heidelbergensis.
Around 500,000 to 600,000 years ago, a group of Homo heidelbergensis left Africa. This group split along the way, with one part heading to Western Asia and Europe, where they evolved into Neanderthals, while the other group migrated to Eastern Asia, eventually becoming the Denisovans. The Homo heidelbergensis that remained in Africa became Homo sapiens.
8. Homo sapiens Might Have Hunted and Consumed Neanderthals
Spanish anthropologists Policarp Hortola and Bienvenido Martinez-Navarro suggest that early Homo sapiens may have hunted Neanderthals for food as they migrated from Africa into Europe, according to their hypothesis.
Researcher Fernando Rozzi from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Paris supports these findings. After studying a Neanderthal jawbone, Rozzi and his team concluded that the cut marks on the bone were made by humans.
In addition to this, it’s believed that early humans may have used Neanderthal teeth to create necklaces. However, some researchers challenge the idea that Homo sapiens hunted and consumed Neanderthals. They suggest that early humans might have simply taken the jawbone from a deceased Neanderthal.
If these claims hold true, they could bolster the theory that early humans hunted Neanderthals to extinction. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that Neanderthals disappeared around the same time that early humans arrived in Europe.
7. They Were Artists
Neanderthals were indeed artists. They created the oldest known cave painting in the world, dating back about 65,000 years. Using red pigment, they etched what appears to be a ladder on the walls of a cave in Spain.
Researchers have uncovered two more Neanderthal paintings in different Spanish caves. All three pieces of art can be attributed to Neanderthals, as Homo sapiens had not yet arrived in Europe. These discoveries suggest that Neanderthals possessed cognitive abilities similar to those of humans.
6. They Were Nearly Labeled Homo Stupidus
The first recognized Neanderthal fossil was found in the Neander Thal (or “Neander Valley”) in Germany in 1856. The valley was named after Joachim Neumann, a 17th-century German minister who frequently wandered the area. Neumann also authored hymns, which he published under the pseudonym 'Neander,' the Greek form of his last name, which means 'new man.'
The name “Neanderthal” was formed by slurring together “Neander” and “thal.” In 1904, the 'h' in “thal” was dropped because the German language does not use the 'th' sound. However, some languages kept the 'th', leading to a variant spelling of the name.
In 1864, William King proposed that the newly discovered human species be called Homo neanderthalensis, after the Neander Valley where the fossil was found. Two years later, Ernst Haeckel suggested the name Homo stupidus (“the stupid man”). Luckily for Neanderthals, King’s suggestion prevailed since he made the proposal first.
It’s no wonder Ernst proposed the name Homo stupidus for Neanderthals. At the time, our understanding of Neanderthals was limited—and perhaps still is. Many people believed they were primitive, unintelligent creatures incapable of drawing or using tools.
However, we now know that Neanderthals could indeed create art and use tools. They were skilled hunters, took care of their sick and elderly, and likely communicated using language. Neanderthals were much like Homo sapiens in many aspects.
5. Neanderthals Practiced Inbreeding
Inbreeding was a common practice among Neanderthals. In 2014, scientists uncovered a 120,000-year-old Neanderthal toe bone in the Altai Mountains of Siberia. Genetic analysis of the bone revealed that the Neanderthal’s parents were closely related, possibly siblings, first cousins, or even an uncle and his niece.
The theory of inbreeding was further supported by the discovery of a 50,000-year-old Neanderthal fossil in Vindija, Croatia, and 13 others in Sidron, Spain. DNA analysis of these bones confirmed that the individuals came from closely related parents.
As with modern humans, inbreeding among Neanderthals led to various complications. Their inbred individuals had deformed bones and body parts. Many Neanderthal fossils showed misshapen kneecaps and vertebrae, and at least one Neanderthal retained a baby tooth into adulthood. Inbreeding weakened their gene pool, making reproduction more difficult compared to early Homo sapiens.
Unfortunately for humans, Neanderthals passed some of these detrimental genes on through interbreeding. Though largely suppressed, these genes are still found in some humans today. Some researchers believe that inbreeding could have played a role in the Neanderthals' extinction.
4. They Were Cannibals
While it's uncertain whether early Homo sapiens consumed Neanderthals, it's clear that Neanderthals practiced cannibalism. This conclusion comes from the analysis of five 40,000-year-old Neanderthal bones. The bones were found to be broken in a manner similar to how Neanderthals broke the bones of the animals they hunted.
The reason for Neanderthals eating their own remains unclear. Despite this, Neanderthals, early Homo sapiens, and even modern humans are not particularly nutritious. Neanderthals would likely have preferred hunting larger, more nourishing animals such as horses, bison, reindeer, and mammoths that roamed the area.
One theory is that Neanderthals resorted to cannibalism for the marrow within the bones. This theory is plausible since the bones showed signs of being intentionally broken to access the marrow. It's also possible that Neanderthals engaged in cannibalism for cultural reasons or simply because they were hungry for neighboring Neanderthals who wandered into their territory.
3. We Don’t Know Why They Went Extinct
The reason behind the extinction of Neanderthals remains a mystery. While we've already mentioned inbreeding and hunting by Homo sapiens as possible causes, these remain speculative. Other theories suggest that Neanderthals may have perished after early humans introduced them to fatal diseases when they migrated into Europe.
Another theory posits that Neanderthals could not keep up with the higher reproductive rates of humans. A more recent hypothesis points to two successive ice ages as the culprit.
Around 44,000 years ago, an ice age began and lasted for about 1,000 years. It was followed by another ice age that began approximately 40,800 years ago and lasted for another 600 years. Both of these ice ages saw temperatures in Europe drop below freezing.
The plants withered, leading to the starvation of the large game that Neanderthals relied on for food. As the animals perished, the Neanderthals soon followed suit, since they were dependent on hunting large game. Meanwhile, early Homo sapiens survived the ice ages by being already adaptable to a diet of plants, as well as various meats and fish.
Some experts propose that a small group of Neanderthals managed to survive the first ice age. These survivors are believed to have merged with humans when the second ice age began, interbreeding and eventually becoming part of the human genetic lineage.
2. They Buried Their Dead
In 1908, two archaeologists uncovered the 50,000-year-old remains of a Neanderthal in a cave in La Chapelle-aux-Saints, France. Despite skepticism at the time, the anthropologists maintained that the Neanderthal had been intentionally buried, an idea that has since been accepted.
Archaeologists revisited the site in 1999, and in 2012, a team led by William Rendu from New York University confirmed that the Neanderthal had indeed been buried there. Since that discovery, more than 20 other burial sites containing Neanderthal remains have been found across Europe. These burials were often performed quickly to prevent scavengers from consuming the body.
The presence of burials among Neanderthals supports the theory that they cared for their sick and elderly. The Neanderthal discovered in the French cave had noticeable bone deformities and had lost many teeth. It seems unlikely that they would have taken the time to bury someone they did not care for.
1. They Were Hunted By Other Animals
Neanderthals likely spent a significant portion of their lives trying to avoid becoming prey. In addition to being hunted by fellow Neanderthals and possibly humans, they also faced threats from wild animals of the era.
After studying Neanderthal fossils, researchers concluded that the remains showed bite marks that were consistent with those made by large carnivores. One fossil, a bone from a young Neanderthal child, provided clear evidence that the child had been consumed by a large cat.
Analysis of another Neanderthal child's bone, found in Ciemna Cave in Poland, revealed that it had been eaten by a large bird. The 115,000-year-old bone had markings indicating it passed through a bird's digestive system, although researchers were unable to confirm whether the bird had killed the child or fed on its remains.
It’s not surprising that Neanderthals sometimes found themselves as prey for other animals. Neanderthals and these predators coexisted in the same environments, competing for food and shelter, often in the same caves. This would have likely led to many confrontations.
