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The first fossil humanoid to be identified as such, and the best known, named after remains found in the [[Neander]] valley in western [[Germany]] in 1856. ''Homo neanderthalensis'' is found throughout [[Europe]] and the [[Near East]] and also the remainder of the [[Old World]] in variant forms, during the late Middle and Upper [[Pleistocene]] thought by some to be circa 80,000 to 30,000 years ago. Within western Europe the remains are associated with the Middle [[Paleolithic]] [[Mousterian]] stone tool industries that disappeared with the arrival of [[Cro-magnon]] man (early modern Humans.)

The first fossil humanoid to be identified as such, and the best known, named after remains found in the [[Neanderthal]] valley in western [[Germany]] in 1856. ''Homo sapiens neanderthalensis'' is found throughout [[Europe]] and the [[Near East]]. Neanderthal man is associated with the Middle Paleolithic Mousterian tool tradition. <ref> Thieme, Hartmut. "Lower to Midle Paleolithic Huntin Spears, and Lithic Tool Traditions." Archaeology, 13, 2003.</ref>

 

Neanderthal Man is associated with the Middle Paleolithic Mousterian tool tradition <ref><i>Thieme, Hartmut "Lower to Midle Paleolithic Hunting Spears, and Lithic Tool Traditions." Archaeology 13, 2003</i></ref>.

==Anatomy==

==Anatomy==

 

A Neanderthal was a fully erect biped of stocky build, with a long low skull, prominent brow ridges and [[occiputs]], and a jutting face.  

A Neanderthal was a fully erect biped of stocky build, with a long low skull, prominent brow ridges and [[occiputs]], and a jutting face.  

Neanderthals appear on average more muscular than humans and lacked a chin, they were social creatures living in small tribes. Neanderthals also possessed the skull features required for speech <ref>Neanderthal Myths <i>Neanderthal, Channel 4</i> [http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/N/neanderthal/]</ref>.

Neanderthals were on average more muscular than humans and lacked a chin, they were social creatures living in small tribes, like the humans of their time, Neanderthals also possessed the skull features required for speech <ref>Neanderthal Myths <i>Neanderthal, Channel 4</i> [http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/N/neanderthal/]</ref>.

The popular impression of him as a stooping brute is incorrect and derives from the original poor reconstruction in the Neanderthal valley. It has also been suggested that the first individual found suffered from vitamin D deficiency ([[rickets]]) or [[syphilis]].

The popular impression of him as a stooping brute is incorrect and derives from the original poor reconstruction in the Neanderthal valley. It has also been suggested that the first individual found suffered from vitamin D deficiency ([[rickets]]) or [[syphilis]].

Whether Neanderthals did interbreed, or if this was even possible remains unknown, so far the small amounts of Neanderthal [[DNA]] found do not suggest a recent genetic link between the species  

Whether Neanderthals did interbreed, or if this was even possible remains unknown, so far the small amounts of Neanderthal [[DNA]] found do not suggest a recent genetic link between the species  

<ref>Odd man out: Neanderthals and modern humans <i>British Archaeology</i> [http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba51/ba51feat.html]</ref>.  

<ref>Odd man out: Neanderthals and modern humans <i>British Archaeology</i> [http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba51/ba51feat.html]</ref>.

Homo neanderthalensis also had an average brain size of 1,450 cc with a range from 1,125cc to 1,750cc. Average human brain size now is about 1,330cc.  

Homo neanderthalensis also had an average brainsize of 1,450 cc with a range from 1,125cc to 1,750cc. Average modern humna brain size is 1,330cc. Many Neanderthal fossils have been recovered showing massive amounts of wear on the teeth, which to many physical anthropologists suggests that the teeth were regularly used for gripping skins during stretching and working.

<ref>Klein, Richard. The Dawn of Human Culture. New York, John Wiley and Sons, 2002.</ref>

Many Neanderthal fossils have been recovered showing massive amounts of wear on the teeth, which to many physical anthropologists suggests that the teeth were regularly used for gripping skins during stretching and working.

<ref>The Dawn of Human Culture <i>Richard Klein, New York, John Wiley and Sons, 2002</i></ref>

==Society==

==Society==

From http://www.icr.org/article/468/:

 

Neanderthals had the ability to make fire, for food they relied on hunting, and were probably strictly carnivorous <ref>Living like a Neanderthal <i>Neanderthal, Channel 4</i> [http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/N/neanderthal/]</ref>.

Evidence of care for the elderly and the sick has been found at the Shanindar Caves site.<ref>Neanderthals on Trial <i>University of Minnesota, Duluth</i> [http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth1602/video/On_Trial.html]</ref>, they also used medicinal plants, made clothes out of animal skins and used stone tools. Neanderthals performed elaborate burying rituals.<ref>Early Man <i>Andy Simmons</i> [http://www-staff.it.uts.edu.au/~simmonds/Sophy/early_man.htm]</ref>.

"No other organisms, either living or fossil, made tools to make other complex tools, buried their dead, had controlled use of fire, practiced religious ceremonies, used complex syntax in their spoken grammar, and played musical instruments, yet we know from their fossils that Neanderthal engaged in all."

Interestingly archaeologists have never found Neanderthal cave drawings, although handcrafted art has been found <ref>Neanderthal 'face' found in Loire <i>BBC News </i>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3256228.stm]</ref>.

Neanderthal man is thought to have developed from ''Homo erectus'', though the widespread distribution of an [[evolution]]ary "intermediate form" hinders an attempt to resolve any single geographical locality as the place of development. The fate of Neanderthals is equally hard or determine, some scientists think they went extinct between 28,000 and 24,000 years ago

Neanderthals had the ability to make fire. They never invented projectile weapons but relied on spears with limited range, even when facing large animals, their robust bodies enabled them to use this hunting style that was considered far too dangerous by humans. {{fact}} A common hunting technique was to drive prey animals off a cliff, or corner them prey and finish them of with spears, much like today's [[Pygmees]] hunt elephants.{{fact}}

<ref>Neanderthals' 'last rock refuge' <i>BBC News</i> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5343266.stm]</ref>, but they can't explain how or why: many theories have been presented, these are the most common ones:

- Climate changes. <ref> Climate Change Pushed Neanderthal Into Extinction In Iberian Peninsula <i> GeneticArchaeology.com</i> [http://www.geneticarchaeology.com/Research/Climate_Change_Pushed_Neanderthal_Into_Extinction_In_Iberian_Peninsula.asp]</ref>

Evidence of care for the elderly and the sick has been found <ref>Neanderthals on Trial <i>University of Minnesota, Duluth</i> [http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth1602/video/On_Trial.html]</ref>, they also used medicinal plants, made clothes out of animal skins and used stone tools. Neanderthals performed elaborate burying rituals, suggesting some sort of religion <ref>Early Man <i>Andy Simmons</i> [http://www-staff.it.uts.edu.au/~simmonds/Sophy/early_man.htm]</ref>.

Interestingly archaeologists have never found Neanderthal cave drawings, although handcrafted art has been found <ref>Neanderthal 'face' found in Loire <i>BBC News </i>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3256228.stm]</ref>.

- Their reliance on meat. <ref>Meaty appetites may have caused Neanderthal extinction <i> Science & Spirit </i>[http://www.science-spirit.org/archive_cm_detail.php?new_id=317]</ref>

[[Young Earth Creationism|Young Earth Creationists]] believe that Neanderthals were as fully human as we are.<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v1/n2/worthy-ancestors</ref> This is based on evidence such as:

- Assimilation into the larger human population. <ref>The assimilation model, modern human origins in Europe and the extinction of Neanderthals <i>Fred H. Smith, Ivor Jankovic, Ivor Karavanic</i> [http://www.ffzg.hr/arheo/prap/the%20assimilation%20model.pdf]</ref>

* There is no evidence to suggest that Neanderthals could '''not''' speak like modern humans.

* The skeletons of humans and neanderthalensis are identical in bone count and types. The size differences between the two can be seen today in humans.

* DNA evidence shows neanderthalensis very similar to humans.

- An interspecies "Zeroth World War". <ref>Odd man out: Neanderthals and modern humans <i>British Archaeology </i>[http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba51/ba51feat.html]</ref>

From http://www.icr.org/article/468/:

Some postulate it is likely a combination of at least some of these factors led to the extinction of the Neanderthals.

"The recent recovery of mitochondrial DNA from the right humerus of the Neanderthal remains from Neander Valley near Dusseldorf, Germany, has been of great interest to evolutionists and creationists alike (Krings et al., 1997). Based on the comparison of modern human mt DNA and that taken from the Neanderthal, evolutionists have argued that the "Neanderthal line" diverged from the line of "hominids" leading to modern humans about 600,000 years B.P. without contributing mt DNA to modern Homo sapiens populations. This strongly implies that Neanderthals were a different species from modern humans. However, the above noted interpretation is not scientifically justified. Lubenow (1998) has pointed out that the use of a statistical average of a large modern human sample (994 sequences from 1669 modern humans) compared with the mt DNA sequence from one Neanderthal is not appropriate. Furthermore, the mt DNA sequence differences among modern humans range from 1 to 24 substitutions, with an average of eight substitutions, whereas, the mt DNA sequence differences between modern man and the Neanderthal specimen range from 22 to 36 substitutions, placing Neanderthals, at worst, on the fringes of the modern range."

Neanderthal Man is not considered to be a direct ancestor of modern humans by evolutionists.

Harsh conditions due to the [[Ice Age]] after the [[flood|Great flood]] caused human groups to migrate and splinter off to survive.  Neanderthal type traits were best suited for the harsh cold.  Malnutrition and longer life spans could cause features similar to those seen in Neanderthal skeletons. <ref>Neanderthals are still human [http://www.icr.org/article/468/]</ref>

==Creationist's views==

== History according to evolutionists ==

[[Young Earth Creationism|Young Earth Creationists]] do not believe Neanderthals were a now extinct prehistoric sentient species, but believe that Neanderthals were fully human <ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v1/n2/worthy-ancestors</ref>, based on these factors:

Evolutionists believe that Neanderthal man developed from ''Homo erectus'', though the widespread distribution of intermediate forms hinders an attempt to resolve any single geographical locality as the place of development. The fate of Neanderthals is equally hard to determine, but they are believed to have gone extinct between 28,000 and 24,000 years ago <ref>Neanderthals' 'last rock refuge' ''BBC News'' [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5343266.stm]</ref>, but how or why is unknown: many theories have been presented, these are the most common ones:

* Competition with other humans over resources.<ref>Did Use of Free Trade Cause Neanderthal Extinction? ''Newswise'' [http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/510666/]</ref>

* Their reliance on meat.<ref>Meaty appetites may have caused Neanderthal extinction ''Science & Spirit'' [http://www.science-spirit.org/archive_cm_detail.php?new_id=317]</ref>

* Assimilation into the larger human population.<ref>The assimilation model, modern human origins in Europe and the extinction of Neanderthals ''Fred H. Smith, Ivor Jankovic, Ivor Karavanic'' [http://www.ffzg.hr/arheo/prap/the%20assimilation%20model.pdf]</ref>

* An interspecies "Zeroth World War".<ref>Odd man out: Neanderthals and modern humans ''British Archaeology'' [http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba51/ba51feat.html]</ref>

* The brain size of neanderthalensis meets or exceeds that of humans today.

Evolutionists consider it likely that a combination of at least some of these factors led to the extinction of the Neanderthals.

* They had the ability to speak, like humans.

* The skeletons of humans and neanderthalensis are very similar in bone count and types. The size differences between the two can be seen today in humans.

* DNA evidence shows neanderthalensis very similar to humans <ref>Neanderthals are still human http://www.icr.org/article/468/</ref>, evolutionists believe this proves a close relationship, creationists believe it proves Neanderthals were fullblooded humans.

Creationists believe that Neanderthals were a splinter-group of humanity who adapted to survive the [[Ice Age]] after the [[flood|Great flood]]. Neanderthal type traits were best suited for the harsh cold.  Malnutrition and longer life spans could cause features similar to those seen in Neanderthal skeletons <ref>ibid</ref>.

Neanderthal Man is not considered to be a direct ancestor of modern humans, but their remains are examples of [[transitional fossil]]s along a subsidiary branch, an evolutionary dead end.{{fact}}

[[Category:Primates]]

[[Category:Primates]]

[[Category:Hominid]]

[[Category:Hominid]]