Neanderthals

Neanderthals were a hominin species that thrived across Eurasia for hundreds of thousands of years, disappearing approximately 40,000 years ago. Recent discoveries are challenging previous perceptions of them as primitive. Archaeological evidence suggests they were capable of complex behaviors, including hunting large game like forest elephants (as evidenced by finds in Lehringen), potentially creating art or symbolic markings (engraved mammoth figurine), and deliberately making fire much earlier than previously believed (Suffolk, Britain). Genetic analysis reveals interbreeding between Neanderthals and modern humans, with Europeans today carrying approximately 2% Neanderthal DNA. Furthermore, studies are exploring the nuances of these ancient couplings, including potential biases in which sex contributed more genes. These findings highlight Neanderthals' cognitive abilities and their significant role in human history and evolution, prompting ongoing research and reevaluation of their place in our understanding of human origins.