1. Neanderthals: Homo neanderthalensis
Existed between 250,000 – 33,000 ya
Found only in Europe and Middle East
Very large cranium (avg cc)
Projecting mid-face
Large noses
Deep set eyes
Massive arched brow ridge
Short
Powerfully muscled, very robust
Barrel-chested

2. Cultural developments associated with Neanderthals
Mousterian style tools
Varied, sophisticated tools (over 60 different types)
Specialized (for specific purpose)
Primarily meat-eaters
Hunted large game at close range
First hominid to bury their dead
Belief in afterlife?
Speech?

3. Cranial Comparisons: H. erectus, H. neanderthalensis & H. sapiens

4. Skeletal Comparison: Neanderthals & H. sapiens

5. What happened to the Neanderthals?
Did Neanderthals interbreed & contribute genes to modern humans? Or Were they “replaced” by modern humans?

6. To consider…
Did Neanders look & behave differently enough to view them as incompatible mates?
If there was interbreeding, then shouldn’t Neander genes still be present in modern populations?
What would the nature of “Replacement” look like?

7. What can we say for certain about the fate of the Neanderthals?
There is genetic and fossil evidence to support a variety of hypotheses
No singular event or process responsible, but rather, a combination of contributing factors
Ex: selective pressures, genetic drift, gene flow, mutations, cultural perceptions, etc.
Our ideas of Neanders (and ourselves) are based heavily on INTERPRETATION
Reconstructing the past is not an exact science…

8. Transition from archaic to anatomically modern Homo sapiens
Appear in:
South Africa kya
East Africa kya
North-central Africa kya
Middle East kya
India 70 kya
China 50kya
Europe kya
Australia kya
N. America 15 kya

9. Anatomical features Flat faced No browridges Vertical forehead
Smaller, narrower face
Prominent chin
Rounded braincase w/vertical sides
Cranial capacity = 1400 cc (avg.)
Postcranial skeleton less robust
Skilled hunters (abundance of prey animals) & efficient foragers – variety of food resources

10. Cultural features Culture as primary means of adaptation
Talk, communicate, plan & teach
Construct better shelters to protect from predators & elements
Sewn clothes
Major advances in stone tool technology
Used bone, ivory, antler
Created specialized tools to work wood, bone, drill holes in skins, bones, shells
Developed harpoon style tools, spear points, blades, knives, spear throwers

11. Cultural features, cont.
Art & symbolic forms – very rich & prolific
Cave paintings
Bone & ivory carvings, figurines, sculptures
Fired clay
Jewelry

13. Our common language IS our Humanity!
Concluding Comments
Hominid evolution is story of diversity, variation & change
“Nothing of what we are today would have been possible in the absence of any aspect of our unique history” (Tattersal 2012:xiii)
What makes us human?
Need for connection
Capacity and need for language
Our common language IS our Humanity!