If you thought that we human beings came from the monkey, know that our history goes beyond that. Have you ever heard of man neanderthal Well, we human beings have ancestry with the Neanderthals, the first hominid species.

Many films portray the history of this predecessor of ours as an animalistic, savage species. However, contrary to popular belief, Neanderthal man was already performing activities using intelligence similarly to the human species.

Table of Contents

• What is Neanderthal?
• Meaning of neanderthal
• Differences between Homo Neanderthal and Homo Sapiens
• Neanderthal physical characteristics
• Neanderthal psychic and social characteristics
• Neanderthals made art
• How did the extinction of Neanderthal man happen?
  • Spread of disease
  • Climate Change

What is Neanderthal?

In short, man neanderthal appeared around 430,000 years ago in Euphrasia, which would be the union of Europe and Asia, while Homo sapiens, around 300,000 years ago, has its origin in Africa.

Neanderthals were the first of the hominid species to walk on two legs. Although similar to the human species, they possessed some characteristics of its own Not least because of the development of his body to survive in the extreme cold where he lived.

Meaning of neanderthal

The meaning of neanderthal, in short, is "Human from the Neander Valley," a species Homo neanderthalensis . This name was created from the first traces of the species found in a cave in the Neander Valley in western Germany, thus giving rise to the word neanderthal, Neander + thal, which means valley.

Differences between Homo Neanderthal and Homo Sapiens

Unlike homo neanderthal Homo sapiens is a species that is adaptable to situations, the main characteristic for the preservation of its species. manufacturing skills of items, such as:

• spears;
• axes;
• shelters;
• manipulate fire.

However, the distinction was in the manner of this construction. While Neanderthals used more rustic techniques and raw materials, humans were more skilled in manipulating nature to their advantage. Even as we see throughout all these years, with all the technology and science created.

In the meantime, as the Neanderthal, more like a wild animal, needed a greater amount of food and energy to reproduce, the human being excelled. Because, since the time that Homo sapiens found this species, it already built natural shelters and lived in better conditions than its relative.

Neanderthal physical characteristics

Neanderthals had physical characteristics that were distinctive of humans. They possessed a larger-than-human skull Also, the shape of his face was totally different, where the central part of the face was projected forward.

In this sense, scientists believe that the feature was an adaptation of the body for life in the cold and dry environment. That is, the volume of the nose acted to humidify and warm the air to reach the lungs.

They also had large teeth, which were also used for the preparation of food and other materials Scientists arrived at this understanding because of the scratch marks, which suggested that they use their teeth as a "third hand".

Finally, the man neanderthal He had stronger and more muscular bodies than humans, and also had wide hips and shoulders. As for height, in an adult male, he was around 1.50m and 1.75m, weighing around 64 and 82kg.

Neanderthal psychic and social characteristics

Although many see Neanderthals as savage, primitive "cavemen", it was the opposite of that. They were intelligent and talented men They showed themselves to be skillful toolmakers, making tools such as axes and spears.

Archeological records show that about 300,000 years ago, this species developed innovative stone technologies Furthermore, in view of the wounds found on their prey - such as mammoths and reindeer - it could be verified that they were:

• expert hunters;
• prepared for large prey;
• smart;
• able to communicate;
• skilled;
• and of great bravery.

Furthermore, archaeological evidence shows that some of them took care of their teeth and buried their dead, thus suggesting that they were sociable and even compassionate beings.

Neanderthals made art

As per a recent study, published by the Science website in 2018, signs have been found that some works of art The paintings, using red pigment, included shapes and symbols.

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In short, this hominid species, did arts like:

• jewelry with eagles' claws;
• pierced animal teeth;
• worked ivories;
• paintings;
• pigments to decorate and camouflage their bodies.

How did the extinction of Neanderthal man happen?

Beforehand, the Neanderthal species became extinct about 40,000 years ago, due to several factors. Among them, scientists have concluded that the main reason for the extinction was when humans began to migrate to other continents And then they found the Neanderthals, about 60,000 years ago.

Soon after, Neanderthals and humans began to procreate, which could be verified through the genes found. In other words, traces of these amorous encounters between the species were located.

Spread of disease

So, from this contact between the species, developed diseases As history shows in various times, it is common for diseases to be carried from one place to another.

In this sense, when humans migrated from Africa to Eurasia, they brought viruses that Neanderthal man's body could not withstand. Moreover, scientists suggest that Homo sapiens, during this period, began to compete with Neanderthals for food and territory, contributing to their extinction.

Climate Change

Among the possible factors, scientists also believe that strong climatic changes were occurring, making the environment inhospitable. In other words, drastic changes in temperature were fragmenting the Neanderthal population.

For, when there are severe decreases in temperature In this way, only more resourceful beings, such as humans, were able to survive.

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