The Neanderthals: Tracking Our Ancestors

The Neanderthals: Tracking Our Ancestors

DW (2021)

Film Review

Neanderthals were an important human species that covered Eurasia for 300,000 years and disappeared. Like modern humans, they had a culture and social systems and mastered their environment. When their skeletal remains were first discovered in the 19^th century, they were mistakenly believed to be non-human ape-like creatures.

They were extremely ingenious in adopting to an Ice Age environment, where temperatures plummeted to -20 degrees Celsius. Paleontologists believe their faces were specially adopted to withstand the cold, with a large nasal cavity that served to warm and humidify air around them. They also had large lungs and a barrel chest that facilitated burning energy to stay warm.

They were highly skilled tool makers, fashioning tools from flint and antlers. They hunted large mammals in coordinated groups, which they used for food and clothing.

Some of the best Neanderthal remains are found on the island of Jersey, which was connected to the European mainland between from 240,000-40,000 BC. They navigated inland via streams, and caught some of the more dangerous animals (eg the woolly rhinoceros) on the soft mud adjoining stream. These animals were too dangerous to hunt on hard ground.

Recently discovered remains reveal European Neanderthals were nomadic, living in bands of 20-30 individuals and repeatedly revisiting specific sites for planned hunting and butchering activities. It’s estimated that there were only 10 to 40 thousand in all of Europe when Homo Sapiens arrived.

Neanderthal artifacts from 80,000 years ago have been found in the Mondran caves in France and the Sedron caves in Spain. These artifacts suggest different Neanderthal bands gathered together in specific locations once a year to engage in specific activities, which included finding mates.

Their vocal apparatus was similar to that of modern humans, and it’s assumed organizing their complex activities required some rudimentary language.

Evidence of artistic activity has been found in striking arrangements of animal bones in the Brunelow cave in France, and discrete circles built from stalagmites. A Neanderthal hastag has been found on a rock in Gibraltar. There’s no evidence they made jewelray or beads.

50,000 years ago, Homo sapiens arrived in Europe for the first time. The first wave was a scouting party with advanced flint tools, and they seemed to vanish after ten years.

Around 42,000 years ago a second wave of Homo sapiens migrated to Europe via the Rhone Valley. There’s evidence that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens co-existed and interbred over 2000 years. Many modern humans carry Neanderthal DNA.