Neanderthals Essay

Superior Essays
Why Neanderthals became extinct? The evolution of man, a three million journey from the branches of Africa to a civilization. The prehistoric times included drastic change, environment, planet, climate, tools, clothing and much more which helped shaped the civilization in the present. From the Hominid family tree it is a mystery when one of the members Neanderthals disappeared and left Homo sapiens to rule the world on their own. Homo Sapiens Neanderthalis or also known by the name Neanderthals. Neanderthals are the closest extinct human relative to a modern human living in the present day. They were shorter, stockier, with no chin or forehead but they were very strong. Their bodies helped them adapt to the life …show more content…
Their culture lacked progressive development for the future whereas modern humans were able to evolve. The culture of Neanderthals was static, there was no drastic changes made to their culture. Beliefs, values and tradition were the same as the ancestors left it. The Neanderthal community was smaller in comparison to a modern human community. They always remained with their own people in their small groups in isolated areas. According to Thomas Wynn, an anthropologist his research shows that Neanderthals were attached to their family, xenophobic and occupied a small territory that they rarely strayed. For this reason, Neanderthals would not have been able to expand globally or adapt to the complex cultures. Moreover, Homo Sapiens Sapiens was able to develop cognitive capabilities in Africa which made modern humans superior in comparison to Neanderthals. Due to their superiority Homo Sapiens were able to have more innovative and inventiveness ideas, complex symbolic and linguistic capabilities, efficient hunting strategies, wide range of resources and environmental flexibility. Though Neanderthals brain was larger than a average human they were not been able to speak or be very well eloquent. According to, Dr. Fredrick Coolidge, a psychologist’s examples of the life of a Neanderthal infant raise among modern humans and a human baby brought in an Neanderthal family. “The …show more content…
With Neanderthals and modern humans living and sharing the same world there will be competition for resources. During this time there were severe climate changes done as well. Research shows Neanderthals metabolic rate were higher than a modern human which meant that they would need much more food and nutrients for their survival. Due to the drastic climate change there would be a tough competition for resources between modern humans and Neanderthals. Likewise, Neanderthals could have not adjusted to the drastic climate changes that were happening. Modern humans were already flexible in with changes occurring in the environment and the climate which is why drastic climate changes did not do much harm to humans. Research studies shows Neanderthals were not adaptable or flexible to changes in the environment. “The fact that Neanderthals in Europe were nearly extinct, but then recovered, and that all this took place long before they came into contact with modern humans came as a complete surprise to us. This indicates that the Neanderthals may have been more sensitive to the dramatic climate changes that took place in the last Ice Age than was previously thought”, says Love Dalén, associate professor at the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm. According to, Francisco Jiménez-Espejo, a paleoclimatologist at the

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Kwang Hyun Ko suggest that Homo sapiens were able to become superior and advance into modern humans because of how aggressive Homo sapiens where. This aggressiveness allowed them to control and take advantage over other species in the animal kingdom (Kwang Hyun Ko, 2016, para 16). The ability to take control of other of species allowed for the Homo sapiens to evolve more like modern day humans. Foraging and taking control over other species became essential to the life of Homo sapiens. Up to this point Homo Sapiens controlled the eastern hemisphere until they, “created efficient rafts to cross the oceans and eventually drive away and kill the regional population of Homo Fluences” (Kwang Hyun Ko, para 46). The advancement of the Homo sapiens shows that this group in particular are always improving their skills which lead them evolving over time into modern humans. This key evidence allows Kwang Hyun Ko to make his point that Homo sapiens did indeed evolve over time and become superior over other human…

    • 1085 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    When compared to homo sapiens, Neanderthals were shorter in height and smaller in size. They were much broader and sturdily built. To give some perspective, the average man is in the USA is 1.76 meters and the average height of a Neanderthal, based on fossil records available, was just 1.6 meters. Homo sapiens also had a contrary difference in form and structure when compared to Neanderthals. Especially when it came to their skulls and teeth. Neanderthals as well had a relatively vast rib cage while the rib cage of a Homo sapien was smaller.…

    • 1174 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Homo sapiens and Homo Neanderthalensis, the scientific name for modern Humans and our closest extinct relative the Neanderthal. These two primates from the “Homo” genome from which Humans and Neanderthals evolved from to come become modern Humans. These two species have coexisted with each other in the past, and even battled for survival as humans expanded across the world. Humans and Neanderthals also interbred with one another mixing the DNA of their offspring and some of this DNA from Neanderthals can be found in Humans. Some of the adaptations Humans possess came from this interbreeding, which helped humans spread from Africa to Eurasia, and adapt to colder temperatures (Moore, William). Although Humans and Neanderthals are very close relatives both have many factors which differentiate the two species one another.…

    • 828 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Essay On Neanderthals

    • 869 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In the 1800’s a strange skull was discovered in Gibraltar. The remains were name Homo neanderthalensis or Neanderthals, an ancient primitive form of human. They adapted physically and culturally to the ice age conditions that prevailed during much of their time. 10,000 years later the Neanderthals vanished and has been a mystery. Although some sources considered the Neanderthals were primitive with no language, art, stupid presence and no personality, scientists have discovered that the Neanderthals were actually intelligent and had used language, symbols and art like human. They also indicated how the ancient human species survived in a brutal time during Ice Age and most importantly, why they disappeared while the modern human are still exist…

    • 869 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    Hominin Evolution Theory

    • 1736 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The hominin evolution theory is the idea of Homo sapiens sapiens (AMHs) evolved from a lineage of hominins in Africa. The purpose of the project is to determine the genus and species of seven skulls discovered by Dr. Musoma in Africa, Europe and Asia, approximate the age of each skull, interpret the evolutionary pathway of each species, and provide evidence for and against the “Out of Africa” theory. The purpose of the project with be completed and evidence on the “Out of Africa” theory will be found.…

    • 1736 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Great Essays

    proving humans are in similar to Neanderthals as far as how we are able to communicate. This is…

    • 1370 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The film never loses track of its scientific accuracy while presenting the three tribes in a unique way. The film uses grunts as the communication strategy for the Kzamm and Ulam tribes, perhaps to give the viewers a more realistic feel concerning the primitive man’s vocabulary. The Neanderthals’ physical characteristics were also portrayed realistically by the actors – large noses, large brow ridge, short, and robust (Lecture: Monday, January 23rd 2017). Their locomotor patterns were also realistic and scientifically accurate given their physical characteristics and short, stocky limbs. For their social organization, the Ulam tribe were seen taking care of their elders and the injured when they were attacked by a Homo erectus tribe. This is also consistent with scientific studies as scientists have found that the Neanderthals cared for their elders and the injured, and healed broken bones appeared common (Lecture: Monday, January 23rd 2017). Furthermore, recent DNA studies have also found that Neanderthals had red hair and pale skin – the Ulam and the Kzamm tribes were shown to have slightly red hair and pale skin in the film. The Neanderthals’ physical features also suggest that they were cold-adapted people (Lecture: Monday, January 23rd 2017). For this reason, it is very plausible that they were dependent on the use of fire for warmth and survival as it was depicted in the…

    • 833 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The article also explains some history and evolution of the Homo species type. This article covers a large audience. The general public, anyone who is a human interested in human history, archeologists, paleontologists, and other types of scientists and professions all would find interest in the article. One purpose of the article is to share scientific findings that are applicable to all people on this earth. Another purpose is to introduce some of human history and evolution to the general public, who might otherwise not know these facts. The article communicates scientific results, transmits the physical story of humans today, and explain the history behind humans’ early…

    • 929 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Lone Survivors Summary

    • 1487 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In a book titled “Lone Survivors” by Chris Stringer, Stringer presents to us his interpretations of the origin of modern humans. Previously, there were two fossils including a tooth and a finger of a female and male, found in the Denisova cave of Siberia which revealed a species that was perhaps indirectly related to both the Neanderthals as well as Homo Sapiens. In addition, they have unique features that are enough to separate them to their own distinct species. These fossils convinced Stringer that perhaps modern humans today are not a pure species but rather a mixture of other hominid groups. Neanderthal genes may still be in us. This idea was furthered by an anthropologist M. B. Mednikova who wrote the research article “ Distal Phalanx of the Hand of Homo: From Denisova Cave Stratum 12: A Tentative Description” in which she describes a…

    • 1487 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Great Essays

    Neanderthal Research Paper

    • 1085 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Homo neanderthalensis is the genus and species name of Neanderthals, and they lived from 200,000 years ago to 40,000 years in Europe and into west Asia going up into Russia. The first fossil evidence of Neanderthal or even early hominids showed up during 1829 inside Feldhofer Cave located in…

    • 1085 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The struggle to survive is often overlooked as a phenomena that only occurs in specific situations; however, archeological evidence suggest that prehistoric homo required the aforementioned struggle to form their society. From physical trauma diminishing the individual’s value to simply making it past adolescence, the need for survival quite literally defined Neanderthal living.…

    • 674 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Evolution is a growing theory. There are different developing theories and hypotheses that are being tested. Neanderthals are a subspecies of human that have been extinct for approximately 40,000 years (PNAS 2016). According to the tree of life, Modern humans and Neanderthals are closely related to each other. Research proves that modern humans and Neanderthals share 99.5% of the same DNA. Looking around in the world today, there are no Neanderthals present, which means they are extinct. The issue is: how did an entire Neanderthal race become extinct? There are various theories present but is it possible that the appearance of modern human race might have put the Neanderthal race in danger and eventually cause the extinction of the Neanderthal…

    • 1226 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Neanderthal Essay

    • 847 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Neanderthals were a species that branched off of our ancestral tree. According to many, they had multiple image problems as to what modern day humans view them as. We thought that they hunted by brute force, had simple tools and were very primitive like. They lacked knowledge and intelligence as well as language and art. They weren’t as high up at the…

    • 847 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Homo Sapiens Essay

    • 1167 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The evidence that prove this was found in or around Europe from the sapiens. The tools found were pit houses, the first man-made shelters, stitched clothing was worn, and sculpture and paintings in caves was invented. These discoveries lead to proof of why H. sapiens were so closely related to modern humans. As Ember & peregrine stated (2007) “The upper Paleolithic period is also characterized by a variety of new developments: new techniques of toolmaking, the emergence of art, population growth, and new inventions such as bow and arrow, the spear-thrower, and the harpoon” (p.200). The way the species fought for survival was outrageous, sometimes they had to fight their kills Homo sapiens quickly took over the old world soon after Neanderthals suddenly disappeared and or went extinct. Neanderthals went extinct so rapidly because Neanderthals could not adapt to the survival structure that Homo sapiens…

    • 1167 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    The location also had to do with the food supply for hunting and gathering, and food to be hunted for eating. Some animals became scarce to the Neanderthals. In the north cows were very scarce because the cows would die of frost bite or being famished, due to the lack of grass and other resources. The Neanderthals ate mostly nuts, berries, and other things they could scrounge up to eat. However, the Neanderthals that lived in a warm climate like in Africa were very well fed. They became well fed to the supply of cows grazing in to meadow and the horses running wild in the meadows as well. These animals were the most hunted, or once in a while a bison would be walking to go to the watering hole for a drink, and would be hunted to be eaten by the Neanderthals. Animals nearby to the Neanderthals provided clothing to the early humans. The early humans that lived in Africa had very light clothing because of the warm climate. Some of the clothing may include a deer pelt in the design of a dress. Yet the Neanderthals that lived in the north had a more thinker clothing usually made out of mammoth skin. Some of these types of clothing may consist of pants or a shirt design made out of mammoth pelt of thicker…

    • 1413 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays