The Neanderthal Enigma Homo neanderthalensis

Who were they? Species restricted to Europe, eastern Middle East during height of Ice Age Species restricted to Europe, eastern Middle East during height of Ice Age Evolved to be specifically cold-adapted: Evolved to be specifically cold-adapted: Short and stocky body type Short and stocky body type Large nose (nasal passages for warming air) Large nose (nasal passages for warming air) Barrel chest (also for warming air) Barrel chest (also for warming air) Long, low, thick skull but with large cranial capacity (close to modern humans) Long, low, thick skull but with large cranial capacity (close to modern humans) Heavy brow ridge Heavy brow ridge

Reconstruction

Maturation Neanderthals' teeth developed faster than their human cousins, new research has revealed. Neanderthals' teeth developed faster than their human cousins, new research has revealed. This may mean Neanderthals reached maturity at 15 years old, around three years earlier than our early human ancestors. This may mean Neanderthals reached maturity at 15 years old, around three years earlier than our early human ancestors.

Range of sites

Homo neanderthalensis Neandertals (ca kya)

Neanderthal Cranial Features

Forbes Quarry Skull ~The second Neanderthal specimen found. ~Discovered at Gibraltar in 1848

Neanderthal 1 Cranium ~Discovered in 1856 in the Neander Valley, Germany ~Neanderthal 1 is the type specimen for Homo neanderthalensis

Amud, Israel Amud Cranium ~Found at Amud, Israel in 1961 by a Japanese excavation team

Amud 7 Infant ~Found at Amud, Israel in 1961 by a Japanese excavation team

Dederiyeh Partial Skeleton ~By Takashi Oguchi, from Dederiyeh, Syria, and contains the remains of a 2-year old child

Kebara 2 Partial Skeleton ~Found in 1982 at Kebara Cave, Israel ~Dated to 60,000 years

Kebara 2 Skeleton (“Moshe”) The archaeological evidence seems to indicate that Moshe was indeed buried. The archaeological evidence seems to indicate that Moshe was indeed buried. He had been placed on his back in a shallow pit with his right arm placed across his chest and his left arm across his abdomen. He had been placed on his back in a shallow pit with his right arm placed across his chest and his left arm across his abdomen. Study of the skeleton suggests that Moshe was between the ages of 25 and 35 when he died. Study of the skeleton suggests that Moshe was between the ages of 25 and 35 when he died. His death was apparently a result of natural causes as there is no evidence of violence or disease in his bones. Moshe was about 1.7 meters tall - a height that is taller than the average European Neanderthal. His death was apparently a result of natural causes as there is no evidence of violence or disease in his bones. Moshe was about 1.7 meters tall - a height that is taller than the average European Neanderthal.

Neanderthal language The most important part of this find, however, may be the fact that along with all of the other bones, a complete hyoid bone was found. The most important part of this find, however, may be the fact that along with all of the other bones, a complete hyoid bone was found. Whether or not Neanderthals possessed the ability to speak is a question that incites more furious debates than those on Neanderthal burials. Whether or not Neanderthals possessed the ability to speak is a question that incites more furious debates than those on Neanderthal burials. This hyoid bone is identical to ours, thus suggesting that the Neanderthals shared our capacity for language. This hyoid bone is identical to ours, thus suggesting that the Neanderthals shared our capacity for language.

Neanderthal sound

La Ferrassie 1 Skull ~Found in 1909 at La Ferrassie, France ~Dated to 50,000 years

Le Moustier A Juvenile Neanderthal excavated in

Using teeth as tools

Not the “Cave Men” they were made out to be! Elaborate Stone and Bone Tool technology Elaborate Stone and Bone Tool technology Mousterian tools Mousterian tools First to bury dead First to bury dead Some degree of altruism Some degree of altruism Old Man of La Chapelle Old Man of La Chapelle Individual from Shanidar Individual from Shanidar

Mousterian Tools: Period of stone tools associated with Neandertals

Not the “Cave Men” they were made out to be! Elaborate Stone and Bone Tool technology Elaborate Stone and Bone Tool technology Mousterian tools Mousterian tools First to bury dead First to bury dead Some degree of altruism Some degree of altruism Old Man of La Chapelle Old Man of La Chapelle Individual from Shanidar Individual from Shanidar

Burial at Tabun, Mt. Carmel, Israel

Mt. Carmel Sites

Reconstruction of Neanderthal Burial

Not the “Cave Men” they were made out to be! Elaborate Stone and Bone Tool technology Elaborate Stone and Bone Tool technology Mousterian tools Mousterian tools First to bury dead First to bury dead Some degree of altruism Some degree of altruism Old Man of La Chapelle Old Man of La Chapelle Individual from Shanidar Individual from Shanidar

Shanidar 1: Eye Socket crushed-blinded in that eye (adult male, years)

Shanidar 1: Left arm amputated above the elbow

“Old Man” of La-Chapelle Molars missing and resorbed

“Old Man” of La-Chapelle Extreme osteo-arthritis

Old Man of La Chapelle The Old Man of La Chapelle, who dates to about 50,000 years ago, suffered from severe arthritis in his neck, had a deformed left hip, a crushed toe, a broken rib, and damaged patella. The Old Man of La Chapelle, who dates to about 50,000 years ago, suffered from severe arthritis in his neck, had a deformed left hip, a crushed toe, a broken rib, and damaged patella. The fact that despite all of these ailments, this individual was able to survive indicates that he was cared for by other members of his clan. The fact that despite all of these ailments, this individual was able to survive indicates that he was cared for by other members of his clan.

Hunting

Red-haired Cave Man?

Where do Modern Humans fit in?

mtDNA Genetic evidence from a comparison of human and Neanderthal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) shows that while chimpanzee and human lineages diverged over five million years ago, the Neanderthals diverged from humans over 550,000 to 690,000 years ago. Genetic evidence from a comparison of human and Neanderthal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) shows that while chimpanzee and human lineages diverged over five million years ago, the Neanderthals diverged from humans over 550,000 to 690,000 years ago. Bones of Homo antecessor, recovered from the Gran Dolina site, in the Sierra de Atapuerca (Burgos, Spain) have been dated at about 780,000 old and are said to represent the last common ancestor for H. sapiens (modern humans) and H. neanderthalensis (Neanderthals) Bones of Homo antecessor, recovered from the Gran Dolina site, in the Sierra de Atapuerca (Burgos, Spain) have been dated at about 780,000 old and are said to represent the last common ancestor for H. sapiens (modern humans) and H. neanderthalensis (Neanderthals) (Krings, 1999; Ovchinnikov, et al, 2000 Relethford, 2001)

Neanderthal vs. Modern

What happened to them? A study in Nature magazine suggests the species may have lived in Gorham's Cave on Gibraltar up to 24,000 years ago. A study in Nature magazine suggests the species may have lived in Gorham's Cave on Gibraltar up to 24,000 years ago. The Neanderthal people were believed to have died out about 35,000 years ago, at a time when modern humans were advancing across the continent. The Neanderthal people were believed to have died out about 35,000 years ago, at a time when modern humans were advancing across the continent. The new evidence suggests they held on in Europe's deep south long after the arrival of Homo sapiens. The new evidence suggests they held on in Europe's deep south long after the arrival of Homo sapiens.

Cave in Gibraltar

Cave area in pre (bottom) and post (top) Neanderthal times.

Clone a Cave man? Scientists reconstruct DNA. Scientists reconstruct DNA. Would it be possible to clone the specimen? Would it be possible to clone the specimen? Should we? Should we?