By Sheetal Kumari | March 25, 2025
(Image: Natural history museum)
Our closest extinct relatives, Neanderthals, existed thousands of years ago. Here are 10 interesting facts about their lives, brains, and survival.
(Image: AI)
Neanderthals existed in Europe and Asia from approximately 400,000 to 40,000 years ago, sharing their time with early modern humans for thousands of years.
(Image: Natural history museum)
Neanderthals had sturdy bodies, powerful muscles, and large heads. Their short arms aided them in coping with cold Ice Age weather.
(Image: Natural history museum)
Neanderthals fashioned tools, constructed homes, and even managed fire. Their intelligence allowed them to survive in rough environments.
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Scientists think that Neanderthals were able to communicate. They possessed a complex brain organization and a vocal anatomy very close to modern humans.
(Image: Natural history museum)
Neanderthals made hunting and cooking stone tools. Some were highly fashioned, indicating great skills.
(Image: Natural history museum)
Neanderthals buried their dead with dignity, which indicates maybe they believed there was life after death.
(Image: Natural history museum)
Neanderthals vanished about 40,000 years ago. Climate change and competition with human beings might have caused their extinction.
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Paintings in caves and carvings imply Neanderthals possessed some degree of creativity and perhaps even symbolic thinking.
(Image: Natural history museum)
Neanderthal DNA lingers on in human beings today. A lot of human beings today possess a small amount of Neanderthal genes.