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Neanderthals are our closest extinct relatives, and they remain a hot topic of research. New discoveries reveal the dangers they confronted, the remarkable survival skills they developed, their distinct physical features, and the intriguing possibility that Neanderthals played a role in saving humans from extinction.
Much remains unknown, prompting scientists to conduct experiments with living tissues that have brought Neanderthals back to life in an astonishingly strange way.
10. Enigmatic Faces
From the very beginning of research into the extinct hominids, a key question arose: Why did Neanderthals have such distinct facial features? Their faces were more pronounced compared to modern humans, with high cheekbones and large noses.
One leading theory suggested that these facial traits provided Neanderthals with a more powerful bite. Evidence of dental wear indicated they may have used their jaws like a third hand, perhaps when crafting tools or clothing.
However, a 2018 study of human and Neanderthal skulls disproved this idea. It was found that modern humans had a stronger bite, yet they possessed more refined features.
The differences in facial structure may be linked to physical needs. Neanderthals had more robust bodies that burned more energy, consuming up to 4,480 calories per day. They were also highly mobile and sometimes lived in colder climates.
The research revealed that Neanderthal facial features supported nasal passages 29 percent larger than those of humans. This likely allowed for better oxygen and warm air intake, which would have been essential for their active lifestyle in colder conditions.
9. The Mystery of the Human-Neanderthal Split
The human family tree is incredibly intricate. Despite advances in fossil discovery and DNA analysis, scientists still don’t have a complete picture of hominid evolution. One of the biggest unanswered questions is the identity of the common ancestor of both modern humans and Neanderthals, and the timing of when they diverged into separate species.
Fossil evidence suggests modern humans emerged around 300,000 years ago, but the oldest Neanderthal remains are more difficult to pinpoint. The earliest fossils date back to 400,000 years ago, while some genetic analyses suggest that humans and Neanderthals might have split as far back as 650,000 years ago.
In 2018, scientists examined fossil teeth discovered at two separate locations on the Italian Peninsula. Before these teeth were studied, the species they belonged to was unknown. The research, however, revealed key features that identified them as belonging to the Neanderthal lineage.
The two teeth were approximately 450,000 years old, supporting DNA findings that suggest the divergence occurred over half a million years ago. While the exact time frame of the human and Neanderthal split remains uncertain, this discovery helps to narrow it down.
8. The Neanderthal Boy
In 2010, the remains of a seven-year-old Neanderthal boy were uncovered among a group of 12 related adults and children in El Sidron Cave, Spain. These individuals lived and perished 49,000 years ago.
A closer examination of the boy's remains revealed fascinating details. For instance, his growth rate was similar to that of a modern seven-year-old, which could help explain why interbreeding between the two species was possible. While Neanderthals are known to have had larger brains, the boy's brain was still in development, reaching 87.5 percent of adult size. In comparison, modern children of the same age typically reach about 95 percent of adult brain volume.
Neanderthal children had a slower maturation process, suggesting that they experienced a longer period of care and learning from adults. It's still unclear whether this was a biological advantage.
Another notable difference was observed in the boy’s vertebrae, which were not fully fused. In contrast, modern human vertebrae typically fuse between the ages of 4 and 6. The absence of disease in the fossil suggests that late fusion was a normal characteristic for Neanderthal children.
The family group found in El Sidron Cave is invaluable. Representing different stages of life and multiple generations, their remains hold the key to unlocking a full understanding of Neanderthal physical development.
7. Tailors' Hands
Despite numerous discoveries that have debunked the stereotype of Neanderthals as brutish cavemen, the image still lingers. In 2018, further research highlighted the more delicate side of these hominids. Surprisingly, Neanderthals used their hands with precision, much like tailors or painters, showing a fine control over how they grasped objects.
Researchers scanned the hands of construction workers, artists, and even butchers to observe how entheses appeared (bone scars resulting from long-term muscle use).
For comparison, 12 ancient hands were also scanned and analyzed. This group was evenly split between humans and Neanderthals who lived around 40,000 years ago.
Among the prehistoric humans, only half displayed the entheses on the thumb and index finger, a sign of intricate work. The rest showed signs of harder, brute-force labor on the thumb and pinky. In contrast, all the Neanderthals exhibited the scars associated with fine-motor tasks.
6. Neanderthal Health Care
A frequently overlooked aspect of the Neanderthal story is their medical expertise. These hominids existed for thousands of years, living in small groups where each individual was probably considered vital to the community. Neanderthals couldn’t have survived as long as they did without developing their own methods for healthcare.
In 2018, the remains of over 30 Neanderthals were analyzed for a special reason. They had all survived various physical challenges, from minor to serious injuries, including broken bones. Most notably, each individual had recovered from different traumas during their lifetime. None of the injuries were fatal, as healing wouldn’t have been possible if they had been.
This discovery was the first solid evidence that Neanderthals had an advanced medical system. It wasn’t just a cultural practice, but rather a crucial survival strategy. Since they provided care for the injured and focused on surviving, researchers suspect that Neanderthal healers may have included skilled midwives.
5. Strange Stone Message
The Kiik-Koba cave in Crimea has been a hotspot for Neanderthal discoveries. Years ago, researchers uncovered the remains of both an adult Neanderthal and a baby. In 2018, a flint flake from the same site revealed 13 distinct surface markings during analysis. This artifact, estimated to be about 35,000 years old, showed clear signs of purposeful design.
Rather than random scratches, these marks were the result of a Neanderthal with precise hand-eye coordination using a variety of pointed stone tools to create intricate zigzag patterns. Such an undertaking would have required considerable mental focus. Furthermore, the small flint wasn’t made from local stone, suggesting it might have been transported from another area—possibly carrying some sort of message.
Researchers agreed that these markings were too meticulously crafted to be mere scribbles from an idle Neanderthal. They ruled out the possibility that the marks indicated ownership of the tool, as other flint flakes from the same site lacked any carvings. It's possible that the markings were intended to convey numerical information. However, the exact meaning remains a mystery, and the small size of the flake could suggest the message was directed at a limited audience.
4. Flu-Fighting Genes
A chilling 2018 study from Stanford University proposed that early humans once faced the threat of extinction due to the flu. What ultimately saved them? Mating with Neanderthals.
It's well known that most Europeans today carry about 2 percent Neanderthal DNA. In the Stanford study, researchers examined 4,500 human genes that interact with viruses. Astonishingly, 152 of these genes were inherited from Neanderthals, providing protection against hepatitis C and modern-day influenza A.
When humans first set foot in Europe, Neanderthals had already been living there for thousands of years. Their genetic makeup had long been adapted to combat the region's infectious diseases. On the other hand, the newcomers from Africa had no such defenses.
Had the two groups never encountered each other, humans would have had to develop their own immunity over time. However, the flu might have led to their extinction before that could happen. Fortunately, interbreeding with Neanderthals created offspring with built-in genetic defenses, allowing these traits to spread through the human population far more rapidly than natural evolution could have achieved.
3. Living Neanderthal Brains
A truly strange breakthrough in Neanderthal research occurred at a California lab. In 2018, scientists, looking to uncover why Neanderthals vanished while humans thrived, turned their attention to neurological insights. To investigate further, they decided to recreate some cavemen’s brains.
The complete Neanderthal genome is already mapped. By making a few genetic adjustments, researchers were able to transform human stem cells into brain cells similar to those of the extinct species. The next phase involved growing a mini version of an organ, known as an organoid.
It took 6–8 months for these tiny brains to reach a size of approximately 0.5 centimeters (0.2 inches). The most noticeable distinction was their shape: while human brain organoids are typically round, the Neanderthal ones grew with a peculiar, popcorn-like appearance. The neural pathways and networks were also found to be less advanced compared to human ones.
This does not necessarily mean Neanderthals were less intelligent. While the study’s findings are impressive, further research is needed before we can attribute their extinction to differences in brain structure.
A bizarre yet intriguing concept involves creating a robot powered by Neanderthal brains. The idea is to have organoids learn from feedback, eventually allowing them to guide the actions of their robot.
2. Child Consumed By Bird
Ciemna Cave in Poland has long been a site for incredible ancient discoveries. However, in 2018, an especially unique story emerged. A skeleton can reveal details about a person’s life and death, and in this case, the story was quite gruesome.
Around 115,000 years ago, a young Neanderthal child, likely aged 5 to 7, died. While the exact cause of death remains unclear, there is a possibility that the child was killed by a large, predatory bird. This was a real threat in the prehistoric world.
This theory is supported by the fact that the child’s finger bones exhibited distinct damage, likely from passing through the digestive system of the bird. It’s also possible that the cause of death was different, and the predator simply scavenged the body afterward.
Not only is this the sole known case of a Neanderthal being preyed upon by a bird during the Ice Age, but these bones also represent the oldest human remains ever found in Poland.
1. They Hunted In Packs
Approximately 120,000 years ago, two fallow deer perished, and their remains were discovered at Neumark-Nord in Germany, first in 1988 and later in 1997. The bones provided fascinating insight into the behavior of Neanderthals.
In 2018, scientists examined the skeletons and discovered both were healthy, young male deer—prime prey for a hungry caveman. The bones displayed markings consistent with Neanderthal spears, suggesting that a skilled group of hunters took them down. If proven, this would further debunk the idea of Neanderthals as primitive and unintelligent.
To test this, scientists gave replicas of the spears to volunteers trained in the craft. These volunteers 'hunted' real deer skeletons wrapped in ballistics gel, simulating soft tissue. The bone damage matched the marks on the ancient deer. Sensors attached to the spears recorded the velocity, revealing that Neanderthals used close-range thrusts rather than throwing from a distance.
A puzzling question remains. One deer displayed few butchering marks, while the other had none at all. It seemed as if almost no meat was harvested from them. Given that hunting and gathering were essential for survival, this behavior is indeed mysterious.
