Homo Sapien Neanderthalensis
Homo Sapien Neanderthalensis, otherwise known as the "Wise Man" or "Neanderthal-Man", lived from 230,000-30,000 years ago and were the first group to create a strong sense of community. At one site scientists and archaeologists found pollen around a grave and they think that the "Wise Man" would put flowers there to show affection for the deceased. The Neanderthals were skilled toolmakers. They were about 5-6 feet tall and stood straight up. For a while Neanderthals and Homo Sapien Sapiens lived alongside each other but eventually Neanderthals went extinct and the other Homo Sapiens did not. Scientists do not know exactly why, but one main difference between the two versions of humans was their voice boxes. Neanderthals had their voice boxes up very far, but modern humans have theirs lower, making it easier to produce a wider variety of sounds and articulate more. Perhaps this is what helped Homo Sapien Sapiens survive.
Fun Facts
- Neanderthal brains were around 10% larger than the brains of average modern humans.
- Neanderthals grew to be around 5'6".
- The first bones of Neanderthals to be found were discovered in 1856 in a limestone quarry in Neanderthal, Germany.
- The brain structure of Neanderthals was organized differently than Homo Sapien Sapiens, or modern humans.
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