We explain what the Neanderthal man was, how was his anatomy and food. In addition, what are its characteristics and habitat.
What was the Neanderthal man?
Neanderthal man, or Homo NeanderthalensisIt was one species of gender Homo that was extinguished 30,000 years ago. He lived with him Homo sapiens during an important part of its existence. He lived for 230,000 until 30,000 years ago in Europe, the Middle East, the Middle East and Central Asia.
His name comes from the valley in which the first fossil of the species was foundin the Neander Valley, in Germany. Since the ancient German for Valle is Thalthe finding became known as the “Neanderthal man.”
Our species and the Neanderthals had a common origin and throughout their coexistence showed signs of hybridization, that is, of interspecies mixture. There are different debates about the relationship between Homo Neanderthalensis and the Homo sapiens sapiens (The current human being). Some specialists consider that the Homo Neanderthalensis It was a subspecies of Homo sapiens and others, a different species.
The evolution of man and the history of its evolutionary phases is a subject in constant research, which is studied from different disciplines. On many occasions, specialists discuss how to interpret the findings of fossil and material remains, how are the relationships between different species and subspecies and how evolutionary jumps were made between them. Therefore, there are different categorizations or definitions that, in turn, are mutating in time from the new findings and research.
See also: Cromañón man
Neanderthal man in the evolutionary scheme
He Homo Neanderthalensis Europe inhabited between 230,000 years and 30,000 years ago. It is believed to be a descendant of Homo heidelbergensis (a subspecies of homo erectus).
There are different looks about the place of Homo Neanderthalensis in the evolutionary scheme of man. For decades, The specialists considered that the Homo Neanderthalensis It was a different species and older than the Homo sapiens. However, with the findings and studies of the last decades, this look has been put into discussion and many specialists consider that the Homo Neanderthalensis It is a subspecies of Homo sapienslike the Homo sapiens sapiensthe modern human being.
Nowadays It is known with certainty that both subspecies coexisted For thousands of years and maintained biological and cultural contacts. There are even those who propose that a hybridization process between them could be given.
Neanderthal’s man’s lifestyle
Neanderthal societies They were structured in bands of 15 to 30 people. They led a nomadic life based on food and collection of food. They had differentiated survival strategies for environmental conditions and the seasons of the year.
Like the Homo sapienshad egalitarian societies in which there were no imposed hierarchies or stable leaders. Some Neanderthal settlements show a complex organizational structure, With places designated for specific and specific activitiesaround a central bonfire.
They manufactured stone tools and flintthrough size and hammering techniques using bones and other rocks. In addition, they dominated the use of fire and used it to cook their food.
Physical features of Neanderthals
The Neanderthals had a body adapted to the glacial cold of its time, robust and little stature. They had a wide thoracic box and nose of wide fins. His skeleton denotes a robust musculature that surely gave him much more strength than that of the Homo sapiensand a much more developed sense of smell.
They had an elongated skull and prominent teeth. From their remains, it is assumed that His larynx would have allowed them articulated languagealthough with a much more limited phonetics than that of modern man.
The average neanderthal It did not exceed 1.65 meters high and was around 70 kg of weight.
Neanderthal culture
Still It is discussed whether or not the Neanderthals produced forms of symbolic art. There are those who claim yes, and that many objects found with marks and incisions, such as eagles, animals of animals or scratches on walls, have a proto-artistic or decorative function. Remains of sea shells, bird feathers and other elements that could have served to make collars or pendants of ritual use have also been found.
Other positions deny that Neanderthals have developed artistic elements And they argue that these findings do not constitute sufficient evidence to talk about artistic development.
Extinction of Neanderthals
The last remains of Homo Neanderthalensis They were discovered south of the Iberian Peninsula and date from 30,000 years ago.
Although The exact reasons for its extinction are ignoredmost studies point to groups of groups of Homo sapiens from Africa, and its competitive coexistence in the same habitats as Homo Neanderthalensis. However, even today the level of contact between the two species and the possibility of biological and cultural exchanges.
Archaeological sites
The main archaeological and paleontological deposits in which fossil and material remains of Homo Neanderthalensis were found are:
- Germany. Ehringsdorf, Valle del Río Neander, Salzgitter-Lebenstedt.
- Belgium. ENGIS, La Naulette, Veldwelar-Hezerwater, Cueva Scladina del Valle del Río Mosa.
- Croatia. Ganovce, eightz, room.
- Slovenia. Divje Babe.
- Spain. L’Arsa, Cueva de los Aircraft, Axlor, Atapuerca, Bañolas, El Escailleu, Lezetxiki, Abric Romaní, Zafarraya, Green Sow, Valdegoba.
- France. Hortus, Fontéchevade, Arcy-Sur-Cure, Bau de l’Aubesier.
- Italy. Monte Circo, Guattari, Saccopastore.
- Iran. Shanidar.
- Israel. Skul, Qafzeh, Zuttiyeh, Tabún, Amud Cuevas, Kebara and Nahal Me’arot.
- Portugal. Lagar Velho, Figueira Brava, Valle del Côa.
- United Kingdom. Forbes’ Quarry, Bontnewydd, Jersey.
- Romania. Subalyuk.
- Russia. Cuevas Denisova, Mezmaiskaya.
- Syria. Dederiyeh.
- Ukraine. KIIK-KOBA, MOLODOVA, STAROSELJE.
- Uzbekistan. Aman-Kutan and Teshik Tash.
Continue with:
document.addEventListener(“DOMContentLoaded”, (e) => {
var sliderContainer, slider;
sliderContainer = document.getElementById(‘block_efc39a363fd0bdb7257a98d5649521e4’);
if (typeof initSlider !== ‘function’) {
console.log(‘Swiper haven\’t been loaded’);
sliderContainer.className += ‘ fw scroll-snap’;
return;
};
options = {
direction: ‘horizontal’,
speed: 1000,
slidesPerView: ‘auto’,
// slidesPerGroup: 1,
centerInsufficientSlides: true,
// centeredSlides:true,
spaceBetween: 15,
breakpoints: {
720: {
// centeredSlides: false,
// slidesPerGroup: 2,
spaceBetween: 25
},
},
pagination: {
el: ‘.swiper-pagination’,
type: ‘bullets’,
clickable: true
},
}
slider = initSlider(sliderContainer, options);
})
References
- Wong, K. (2000). Who were the Neanderthals? Research and science(285), 74-83.
- López Serrano, A. (1996). Hominization and material culture process. The contribution of historical anthropology.
- Harris, M. (1981). Introduction to General Anthropology. Alliance.
- “Homo Neanderthalensis” on Wikipedia
- “How did the Neanderthal man live?” (video) on TVMDOCU
- “The amazingly simple reason why Neanderthal’s man was extinguished” in Infobae
- “Characteristics of Neanderthal man” in history and biographies
- “Homo Neanderthalensis” in Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
- “Neanderthal” in The Encyclopaedia Britannica
