The Neanderthals were a remarkable group. They were as large-brained as we are and had remarkably advanced tools. They did not, however, create art or think symbolically, as modern humans do. Beginning about 200,000 years ago, Neanderthals dominated most of Europe and parts of western Asia until their lineage died out around 30,000 years ago. Understanding the Neanderthals—our closest relatives in the hominid family—can help us understand what makes modern humans unique in the natural world.

For much of the time that Neanderthals inhabited Europe and parts of Asia, the climate was considerably colder than it is today. Between 30,000 and 70,000 years ago, during the heyday of the Neanderthals, glaciers covered much of northern Europe. These early humans adapted well to life during the Ice Age: we believe they made clothing from animal skins, built shelters and used fire. They were proficient hunters of small game (and possibly large animals) and also probably gathered roots, nuts and fruits for food. Their tools reflect a quite advanced level of craftsmanship.

Even if Neanderthals were less brutish and more like modern humans than commonly portrayed, one important distinction is apparent from the record they left behind. Unlike modern humans, the Neanderthals apparently did not think symbolically: they left no signs of having art or of practicing rituals, such as elaborate burial of the dead.

Neanderthals Illustration by Jay H. Matternes

Did Neanderthals Behave Like Modern Humans?
Scientists’ understanding of the Neanderthals has changed considerably over the decades. During the early 1900s, they were viewed as primitive brutes. Neanderthals were next seen as a subspecies of Homo sapiens with all the traits of modern humans. The painting at right, completed in 1983, reflects the latter view. The female in the foreground appears to be engaged in an animated conversation, while her hair is carefully coifed and her skirt neatly sewn. In recent years, however, scientists have revised their view of Neanderthals and now consider them as more distinct from modern humans.