Homo Neanderthalensis

   
  Background
Neanderthal Man in the Ice Age

Homo Neanderthalensis, or Neanderthal Man is one the most popular hominids because of his representation in Hollywood movies. But, the real Neanderthal emerged in Europe and western Asia as early as 350,000 years ago. The Neanderthal is probably the most found of all hominid fossils. The original Neanderthal is believed to have been found near the Neander Valley in Germany. Like many of the other hominids, Homo Neanderthalensis is named after the place where their fossils were first found.

  Made for Survival
  Homo Neanderthalensis lived as recently as 33,000 years ago. Although they disappeared from Asia approximately 55,000 years ago, they managed to survive another 20 thousand years in the extremely cold climate of the European Ice Age. The Neanderthal people survived because they were built for the most harsh conditions. Fossils of Neanderthals show a myriad of injuries. Broken bones, dislocated joints, and other injuries are just some examples of what a Neanderthal experienced during his lifetime.
  The Way of Life for Neanderthal
Homo Neanderthal hunting Although the Neanderthal is not our direct ancestor, he is believed to have taken some part in the formation of modern man. The Neanderthal is also one of the most interesting hominids because of their way of life. The Neanderthal people are admired for their brute force, their ability to survive in the harsh climates of the European Ice Age, and their appearance. They were stocky in build, and were highly skilled hunters. They also had a high tolerance of pain, which allowed them to continue daily hunting ruitines even while injured. The Neanderthals also lived in what are belived to be family-like units. They cared for each other, much like we do today. They were also patriarchal. The male Neanderthal would go in search of food, while the females stayed in their caves until food was brought home.
  The Race to Inherit the Earth
  Even Neanderthals' ability to survive one of the most devastating climate was not enough to outlive their smarter competitors. Cro-Magnon Man, our direct ancestor, lived during the time of the Neanderthals. These two cultures clashed in a race for survival. Although Neanderthals' hunting skills were sharp, they were not able to outwit the smarter and more ingenious Cro-Magnon people. The Cro-Magnon went on to paint the caves in Lascaux, France, and then reproduce in mass amounts, which ultimately drove the Neanderthals to extinction. Although, some scientists suggest that Neanderthal did not die off. Rather, he mixed in with the Cro-Magnon people to create a single race; the modern human.

 

Homo Neanderthal Quiz

 
1. Neanderthal Man is named after...
a) the archaeologist that discovered the remains.
b) the group of people that lived there.
c) the Neander Valley in Germany.
d) the name of the archaeological group that found the first fossils.

2. Neanderthals lived from about 350,000 years ago to as recently as 33,000 years ago. Which statement is true?
a) Neanderthals lived close to 400,000 years.
b) Neanderthals lived less than 250,000 years.
c) Neanderthals lived for more than 300,000 years.
d) Neanderthals lived for more than 383,000 years.

3. Neanderthals were patriarchal, which means they...
a) loved their country.
b) developed patience at a young age.
c) sent the female Neanderthals in search of food.
d) believed the male Neanderthal was the leader and was in charge of bringing food.

4. Neanderthals did not survive because...
a) they froze to death in the Ice Age.
b) they killed each other in tribal wars.
c) they lost their hunting skills.
d) the Cro-Magnon people were smarter and drove them to starvation and extinction.

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  Copyright 2006, Rene Canales