Download
1 / 9
110 likes | 327 Vues
Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) thrived in Europe and northern Asia from 350,000 to 30,000 years ago, exhibiting traits such as a robust physique, larger noses, and a brain size exceeding that of modern humans. Evidence shows they created sophisticated tools, utilized fire, and demonstrated social structures similar to Homo sapiens. Neanderthals were skilled hunters and craftsmen, with proof of language use and artistic expression. Genetic studies reveal traces of Neanderthal DNA in non-Africans today, highlighting their complex relationship with early modern humans and their eventual extinction.
E N D
Human Evolution Neanderthals and Us
350 – 30 kya – H. Neanderthalensis • AKA Neanderthals • Europe, central and northern Asia • Shorter limbs, wide ribcage, larger noses • Height 5’7” • Brain 1200-1900 cc (larger than AMH)
Very closely related to AMH • Stronger than AMH, especially arms and hands • Range of hair colours, many red or blonde haired, with light skin • Good eyesight, possibly better than AMH • Same gait as AMH • Evidence of language use • **Same intelligence as AMH**
Made advanced tools, such as quartz handaxes, 3-sided picks, stone cleavers • Dugout boats – sailed Mediterranean as early as 99 kya • Buried dead • Created cave art • Evidence of self-adornment • Apex predators – hunted deer, reindeer, ibex, boar, aurochs, mammoth, elephant, rhino • Used fire to cook vegetables
Complex social groups similar to H. sapiens • Evidence of trade between groups, and with H. sapiens • Built shelters • In Moldova – building made of mammoth skulls, jaw bones, tusks, leg bones had 25 hearths inside
Extinction • Recent DNA testing has shown evidence of some interbreeding of H. sapiens and Neanderthals, outside of Africa • 1-4% of the DNA of non-Africans was passed down from Neanderthal ancestors • Those individuals and groups who were not absorbed into H. sapiens populations likely died out after a brief period of rapid climate change • Food became more scarce, and Neanderthals required more calories to survive than H. sapiens
200 kya – present – H. Sapiens • Extinct subspecies? – H. sapiens idualtu • 160 kya • Ethiopia • Brain - 1450 cc • VERY few fossils, so not much known; many argue they are not actually a different group from H. sapiens sapiens
H. Sapiens Sapiens • AKA “wise man” • Started in Africa, but later moved throughout the world
Blue eyes, dark hair, olive complexion • Light skin does not appear until 6 – 12 kya • Height • Early – 5’7” – 5’9” • Modern range - 4’7” – 6’3” • Brain • Early average – 1600 cc • Modern range - 950-1800 cc • At first, culture essentially the same as Neanderthals, including signs of behavioral modernity
