What are Neanderthals?
Neanderthals are an extinct species of the genus Homo, which includes humans and many of our ancestors and their evolutionary spinoffs. Neanderthals only existed between about 130,000 and 24,000 years ago, and can be thought of as an early human adapted to harsh Ice Age climates. They were relatively short (average height 5’ 5’’ for males, a few inches short for females) but well-built. In fact, mutual exposure between Neanderthals and early modern humans may have contributed to the folk mythological notion of a dwarf. Neanderthals had low, flat, elongated skulls, projecting mid-faces, a brain case 10% larger than humans, and a couple dozen other physical features that make them distinct from modern humans, as well as dismissing the idea that Neanderthals were just a subspecies of Homo sapiens. Neanderthals never existed in very large numbers; scientists figure that there were never more than about 10,000 individuals at any given time. About 400 Neanderthal fossils have been found, som
Basically, Neanderthals were caveman, and yes, it is rumored that we, humans, have evolved from them. Neanderthals didn’t stand up straight and didn’t have a spoken language like we do today. I don’t know if it’s really limited to white people or not; I’ve always been taught it was “humans” in general.
How do they differ from modern humans? 2) Discuss some of the new ideas as to why early human ancestors dispersed from Africa. 3) What are DNA studies telling us about human migrations and populations? Student Responses: See the Just-in-Time Teaching page on assessment for information and ideas on how to evaluate student responses. References and Notes: Articles that students may be assigned to read for this set of questions include (but are not limited to): Wilford, J.N., “Neanderthals and Modern Humans Co-existed Longer Than Thought.” The New York Times Book of Fossils and Evolution, p. 224-227. Wade, N., “Neanderthal DNA Sheds New Light on Human Origins.” The New York Times Book of Fossils and Evolution, p. 235-238. Wilford, J.N., “Skulls on the Out-of-Africa Trail.” The New York Times Book of Fossils and Evolution, p. 251-253. Wade, N., “To People the World, Start with 500.” The New York Times Book of Fossils and Evolution, p. 254-258. The use of Just-in-Time Teaching is discussed
Neanderthals are an extinct species of the genus Homo, which includes humans and many of our ancestors and their evolutionaryspin-offs. Neanderthals only existed between about 130,000 and 24,000 years ago, and can be thought of as an early human adapted to harsh Ice Age climates. They were relatively short (average height 5′ 5” for males, a few inches short for females) but well-built. In fact, mutual exposure between Neanderthals and early modern humans may have contributed to the folk mythological notion of a dwarf. Neanderthals had low, flat, elongated skulls, projecting mid-faces, a brain case 10% larger than humans, and a couple dozen other physical features that make them distinct from modern humans, as well as dismissing the idea that Neanderthals were just a subspecies of Homo sapiens.
