Who were the Neanderthals?
Neanderthals are our closest [[extinct::A plant, animal or human species that is no longer in existence.]] human relatives. They had shorter and [[stockier::Having a short and strong body.]] 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::A single example of anything, especially a plant or an animal.]] recognised as an early human [[fossil::Parts of a dead plant, animal, or human remains that have hardened and turned to rock.]]. It was discovered in 1856.
Where did the Neanderthals live?
Neanderthals evolved in Europe and Asia, whereas modern humans [[evolved::The way an organism changes slowly in a particular way in order to keep up with its environment.]] in Africa. Neanderthals lived across Europe, according to fossil [[evidence::A document, a fact or a sign that proves something to be true.]] from Sima de los Huesos in northern Spain and Swanscombe in Kent, England.
According to recent studies, Neanderthals and humans [[co-existed::To live together in the same location or at the same time in a peaceful manner.]] 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::To breed in order to have a child.]].
The study has been published in the [[journal::A type of magazine that deals with and publishes about a specific subject like science, maths, etc.]] “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::A way for figuring out the age of very old items by measuring the amounts of carbon in them.]] for 56 [[artefacts::A human-made object, such as a tool or a decoration, that has historical importance.]] 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::A group in which animals. plants, humans, etc. are divided.]] 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!
Quick Revision
Neanderthals were our closest extinct human relatives, strong and short, adapted to cold weather.
They made tools, clothes, fires, and hunted skillfully.
Lived in Europe and western Asia; first fossil found in 1856.
Humans and Neanderthals coexisted in Europe for about 1,400–2,900 years.
Studies show they interacted and even mated before Neanderthals went extinct around 40,000 years ago.
