The Neanderthal Enigma Homo neanderthalensis. Who were they? Species restricted to Europe, eastern...

The Neanderthal EnigmaThe Neanderthal Enigma

Homo neanderthalensisHomo neanderthalensis

Who were they?Who were they?

Species restricted to Europe, eastern Middle Species restricted to Europe, eastern Middle East during height of Ice AgeEast during height of Ice Age

Evolved to be specifically cold-adapted:Evolved to be specifically cold-adapted: Short and stocky body typeShort and stocky body type Large nose (nasal passages for warming air)Large nose (nasal passages for warming air) Barrel chest (also for warming air)Barrel chest (also for warming air) Long, low, thick skull but with large cranial Long, low, thick skull but with large cranial

capacity (close to modern humans)capacity (close to modern humans) Heavy brow ridgeHeavy brow ridge

ReconstructionReconstruction

http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/savage.html

MaturationMaturation

Neanderthals' teeth developed faster than their Neanderthals' teeth developed faster than their human cousins, new research has revealed. human cousins, new research has revealed.

This may mean Neanderthals reached maturity This may mean Neanderthals reached maturity at 15 years old, around three years earlier than at 15 years old, around three years earlier than our early human ancestors.our early human ancestors.

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn4937

Range of sitesRange of sites

http://www.ecotao.com/holism/hu_neand.htm

Homo neanderthalensisHomo neanderthalensisNeandertals (ca. 200-32 kya)Neandertals (ca. 200-32 kya)

Neanderthal Cranial FeaturesNeanderthal Cranial Features

Forbes Quarry   Skull

~The second Neanderthal specimen found.  ~Discovered at Gibraltar in 1848

Neanderthal 1  Cranium

~Discovered in 1856 in the Neander Valley, Germany ~Neanderthal 1 is the type specimen for Homo neanderthalensis

Amud, IsraelAmud, Israel

Amud   Cranium ~Found at Amud, Israel in 1961 by a

Japanese excavation team

Amud 7   Infant Amud 7   Infant

~Found at Amud, Israel in 1961 by a Japanese excavation team

Dederiyeh   Partial Skeleton Dederiyeh   Partial Skeleton

~By Takashi Oguchi, from Dederiyeh, Syria, and contains the remains of a 2-year old child

Kebara 2   Partial Skeleton

~Found in 1982 at Kebara Cave, Israel~Dated to 60,000 years

Kebara 2 Skeleton (“Moshe”)Kebara 2 Skeleton (“Moshe”) The archaeological evidence seems to indicate that The archaeological evidence seems to indicate that

Moshe was indeed buried. Moshe was indeed buried. He had been placed on his back in a shallow pit with He had been placed on his back in a shallow pit with

his right arm placed across his chest and his left arm his right arm placed across his chest and his left arm across his abdomen. across his abdomen.

Study of the skeleton suggests that Moshe was Study of the skeleton suggests that Moshe was between the ages of 25 and 35 when he died. between the ages of 25 and 35 when he died.

His death was apparently a result of natural causes as His death was apparently a result of natural causes as there is no evidence of violence or disease in his there is no evidence of violence or disease in his bones. Moshe was about 1.7 meters tall - a height that bones. Moshe was about 1.7 meters tall - a height that is taller than the average European Neanderthal. is taller than the average European Neanderthal.

Neanderthal languageNeanderthal language

The most important part of The most important part of this find, however, may be this find, however, may be the fact that along with all of the fact that along with all of the other bones, a complete the other bones, a complete hyoid bone was found.hyoid bone was found.

Whether or not Neanderthals Whether or not Neanderthals possessed the ability to speak possessed the ability to speak is a question that incites more is a question that incites more furious debates than those on furious debates than those on Neanderthal burials. Neanderthal burials.

This hyoid bone is identical This hyoid bone is identical to ours, thus suggesting that to ours, thus suggesting that the Neanderthals shared our the Neanderthals shared our capacity for language. capacity for language.

Neanderthal soundNeanderthal sound

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080421154426.htm

La Ferrassie 1   Skull

~Found in 1909 at La Ferrassie, France~Dated to 50,000 years

Le MoustierLe Moustier

A Juvenile Neanderthal excavated in 1909.

http://www.mnh.si.edu/anthro/humanorigins/ha/lemoust.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Carte_Neandertaliens.jpg

Using teeth as toolsUsing teeth as tools

http://www.ecotao.com/holism/hu_neand.htm

Not the “Cave Men” they were Not the “Cave Men” they were made out to be!made out to be!

Elaborate Stone and Bone Tool technologyElaborate Stone and Bone Tool technology Mousterian toolsMousterian tools

First to bury deadFirst to bury dead Some degree of altruismSome degree of altruism

Old Man of La ChapelleOld Man of La Chapelle Individual from ShanidarIndividual from Shanidar

Mousterian Tools: Period of stone Mousterian Tools: Period of stone tools associated with Neandertalstools associated with Neandertals

Not the “Cave Men” they were Not the “Cave Men” they were made out to be!made out to be!

Elaborate Stone and Bone Tool technologyElaborate Stone and Bone Tool technology Mousterian toolsMousterian tools

First to bury deadFirst to bury dead Some degree of altruismSome degree of altruism

Old Man of La ChapelleOld Man of La Chapelle Individual from ShanidarIndividual from Shanidar

Burial at Tabun, Mt. Carmel, Burial at Tabun, Mt. Carmel, IsraelIsrael

Mt. Carmel SitesMt. Carmel Sites

Reconstruction of Neanderthal Reconstruction of Neanderthal BurialBurial

Not the “Cave Men” they were Not the “Cave Men” they were made out to be!made out to be!

Elaborate Stone and Bone Tool technologyElaborate Stone and Bone Tool technology Mousterian toolsMousterian tools

First to bury deadFirst to bury dead Some degree of altruismSome degree of altruism

Old Man of La ChapelleOld Man of La Chapelle Individual from ShanidarIndividual from Shanidar

Shanidar 1: Shanidar 1: Eye Socket crushed-blinded in that eyeEye Socket crushed-blinded in that eye(adult male, 40-50 years)(adult male, 40-50 years)

Shanidar 1:Shanidar 1:Left arm amputated above the elbowLeft arm amputated above the elbow

““Old Man” of La-ChapelleOld Man” of La-Chapelle

Molars missing and resorbed

““Old Man” of La-ChapelleOld Man” of La-Chapelle

Extreme osteo-arthritisExtreme osteo-arthritis

Old Man of La ChapelleOld Man of La Chapelle

The Old Man of La Chapelle, who dates to The Old Man of La Chapelle, who dates to about 50,000 years ago, suffered from severe about 50,000 years ago, suffered from severe arthritis in his neck, had a deformed left hip, a arthritis in his neck, had a deformed left hip, a crushed toe, a broken rib, and damaged crushed toe, a broken rib, and damaged patella.patella.

The fact that despite all of these ailments, this The fact that despite all of these ailments, this individual was able to survive indicates that he individual was able to survive indicates that he was cared for by other members of his clan. was cared for by other members of his clan.

HuntingHunting

Red-haired Cave Man?Red-haired Cave Man?

Where do Modern Humans fit in?Where do Modern Humans fit in?

mtDNAmtDNA Genetic evidence from a comparison of human and Genetic evidence from a comparison of human and

Neanderthal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) shows Neanderthal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) shows that while chimpanzee and human lineages diverged that while chimpanzee and human lineages diverged over five million years ago, the Neanderthals over five million years ago, the Neanderthals diverged from humans over 550,000 to 690,000 years diverged from humans over 550,000 to 690,000 years ago. ago.

Bones of Bones of Homo antecessor Homo antecessor , recovered from the Gran , recovered from the Gran Dolina site, in the Sierra de Atapuerca (Burgos, Dolina site, in the Sierra de Atapuerca (Burgos, Spain) have been dated at about  780,000 old and are Spain) have been dated at about  780,000 old and are said to represent the last common ancestor for said to represent the last common ancestor for H. H. sapiens sapiens (modern humans) and (modern humans) and H. neanderthalensis H. neanderthalensis (Neanderthals) (Neanderthals)

http://www.ecotao.com/holism/hu_neand.htm (Krings, 1999; Ovchinnikov, et al, 2000 Relethford, 2001)

Neanderthal vs. ModernNeanderthal vs. Modern

http://www.discover.com/issues/sep-06/rd/cavemanclone/

What happened to them?What happened to them?

A study in Nature magazine suggests the species may A study in Nature magazine suggests the species may have lived in Gorham's Cave on Gibraltar up to have lived in Gorham's Cave on Gibraltar up to 24,000 years ago. 24,000 years ago.

The Neanderthal people were believed to have died The Neanderthal people were believed to have died out about 35,000 years ago, at a time when modern out about 35,000 years ago, at a time when modern humans were advancing across the continent. humans were advancing across the continent.

The new evidence suggests they held on in Europe's The new evidence suggests they held on in Europe's deep south long after the arrival of deep south long after the arrival of Homo sapiensHomo sapiens. .

Cave in GibraltarCave in Gibraltar

Cave area in pre (bottom) and post Cave area in pre (bottom) and post (top) Neanderthal times.(top) Neanderthal times.

Clone a Cave man?Clone a Cave man?

Scientists reconstruct DNA.Scientists reconstruct DNA. Would it be possible to clone the specimen?Would it be possible to clone the specimen? Should we?Should we?