Who were the Neanderthals?
Neanderthals are our closest extinct human relatives. They had shorter and stockier bodies to survive in colder regions. They created and used various tools, lived in shelters, knew how to make a fire, ate plant foods, made and wore clothes, etc. They were also skilled hunters.
Neanderthal 1 was the first specimen recognised as an early human fossil. It was discovered in 1856.
Where did the Neanderthals live?
Neanderthals evolved in Europe and Asia, whereas modern humans evolved in Africa. Neanderthals lived across Europe, according to fossil evidence from Sima de los Huesos in northern Spain and Swanscombe in Kent, England.
According to recent studies, Neanderthals and humans co-existed in Europe.
What does the new research say?
The study says that Neanderthals and humans lived side by side for up to 2,900 years in France and northern Spain. This allowed them to learn from one another and even mate.
The study has been published in the journal “Scientific Reports.” Humans and Neanderthals coexisted in Europe, although the exact places are unclear. It's also unclear when this happened. But, early fossil evidence suggests that modern humans and Neanderthals co-existed on Earth for thousands of years.
How was the study conducted?
The researchers looked at radiocarbon dating for 56 artefacts from 17 different places in France and northern Spain.
The findings show that Neanderthals in the area became extinct between 40,870 and 40,457 years ago, whereas modern humans first appeared around 42,500 years ago. This indicates that the two species co-existed in the region for 1,400 to 2,900 years.
What did we learn from this article?
From this article, we can learn about the history of Neanderthals and humans. This article also shows that even different species can co-exist together.
Do you think Neanderthals and humans could have been friends? Let us know in the comments below!
