Neanderthals

The first neanderthal was discovered in Germany's Neander valley in 1856. The remains were significantly different to that of a modern human, much stockier, with a strong brow ridge and a supposed 'stooping' posture. Some pose the question that neanderthals may have contributed to the early human gene pool, as we are not anatomically the same, but the different traits neanderthals carry can be found in separate instances throughout the human population.

Different fossils of the early moderns found at differing locations around the world are said to have some morphological similarities to neanderthals. A full skeleton found in Portugal's Lapedo valley, is that of a four year old child buried 24,500 years ago is said to bare traits that are unmistakably mixed between modern humans and neanderthals. Found in 1998, the fossil was named the hybrid child from Portugal, and it was discovered that the child was ceremoniously buried in a way known to us by the early Europeans. It has been thought that when the early moderns turned up in Europe 30,000 years ago, the native Neanderthals were quickly replaced. Because this fossil was found after it is thought the Neanderthals disappeared its anatomy reflects one of the possible true mixings of the populations and not just a chance mating.

Neanderthals have been portrayed since their discovery as a brutish creature that does not have the sophistication of a modern, they have been said to not be able to fend for themselves, or survive in bad conditions. Yet at a Croatian site, the analysis of animal remains suggests otherwise. It is now posed that Neanderthals were skilled hunters, killing large animals with tools that more sophisticated then previously believed. An excavation in Syria found a neanderthal made tool stuck in the neck bone of an animal.

The question of culture among neanderthals has long been posed that they were sub human and never evolved like the moderns did. Neanderthals burial sites are well known, but...