A Day in The Life of a Neanderthal
A Day in the Life of a Neanderthal
Our closest extinct relatives - the Neanderthal. A species so similar to the modern human in some aspects but entirely different in others. Researchers have outdone themselves in their quest to allow us to take an inside look at their time here on this earth, and have successfully unearthed an abundance of information about them regarding their diet, hunting patterns, burial rituals, etc.
Fossil evidence states that Neanderthals and the modern human evolved from a common ancestor somewhere between 700,000 to 300,000 years ago. Belonging to the same homo genus, Neanderthals and modern humans also inhabited the same geographic areas in western Asian for 30,000 to 50,000 years, yet may have had very limited direct interaction for tens of thousands of years. Exposure to the same climate fluctuations and weather conditions impacted both of these species tremendously, yet only one was able to keep their lineage thriving and alive to the present day. How could such a competent and intelligent species be met with a sudden halt to their evolution?
I set out on a quest to discover as many of the details surrounding their extinction as possible, and essentially, as many details about Neanderthals and their daily lives, as well. I yearned to know more than the basic surface-level information taught to us at school.
My site visit took place in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History located in Washington D.C. More specifically - the David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins exhibit was where I gravitated towards as I believed the answers I searched for were there.
My visit started with an introduction to Homo neanderthalensis.
The realistic models really allowed you to take a deep look into the face of a Neanderthal, with their angled cheek bones and huge noses on full display. The exhibit explained its usefulness for humidifying and warming cold, dry air. Their bodies were also shorter, stockier, and brawnier than ours, but their brains were just as large, if not larger than the modern human's.
I walked into an large and informative exhibit, with many smaller displays and sections describing certain parts of Neanderthal life. Visuals were displayed all over the exhibits in the form of pictures and videos, along with interactive lessons - many of which appealed to children.
Visitors were able to observe the fossil remains of a Neanderthal from long ago. Based off of the skeletal remains themselves, many clues and hints about the Neanderthal's time on this earth were discovered.
The raised areas on the man's upper bone show that a strong shoulder and chest muscles put a lot of stress on his arm bone, proving that he led an active life and worked hard to hunt and gather food. The crowns of the man's teeth were worn down almost to the roots and there were age-related changes in his hip bone, concluding that he was at least 40 years old. Plaque found on one of his molar teeth contained starch grains; indicating that this individual consumed plants in their food diet. Most interestingly, there was a partially healed stab wound discovered on the Neanderthal man's ninth left rib. The cut was deep and showed that something sharp stabbed his chest and probably collapsed his lung. The exhibit believed this might be evidence of the oldest known homicide recorded.
There were many realistic models. text blurbs, and fossil fragments, thoroughly describing where they were found and what its discovery meant to researchers and our ever-growing knowledge of Neanderthals. We learned about Neanderthal food diets and activities, and what certain discoveries on their bone remains indicated about their time on this earth.
There were many realistic models. text blurbs, and fossil fragments, thoroughly describing where they were found and what its discovery meant to researchers and our ever-growing knowledge of Neanderthals. We learned about Neanderthal food diets and activities, and what certain discoveries on their bone remains indicated about their time on this earth.
There were no experts with a background in human origins or Neanderthals in attendance, but the museum exhibit itself did an impressive job of allowing visitors to keep up with all information displayed around them without feeling overwhelmed or underwhelmed, as there was no shortage of interesting facts presented.
So how did the Neanderthal die out? Well, the modern human evolved in Africa and spread to areas worldwide, such as Europe. Their bodies were familiar with warm African weather, yet they were able to survive freezing cold winters. The exhibit credits the modern human's survival to their innovative tools, clothing, and creative ways of adjusting to these diverse surroundings.
On the other hand, while one would expect a species accustomed to ice ages and climate fluctuations to survive under these conditions, it was actually during a cold spell that Neanderthal numbers dwindled significantly. Neanderthals originally evolved in Europe and moved to warmer parts of the country and as far as Asia during cold periods. During a particularly cold season, Neanderthals were actually unable to move back to areas they once traveled to during those times as the presence of the modern humans there had prevented them from doing so. With nowhere else to go, the Neanderthals fell victim to intense weather conditions and eventually, starvation and death.
So how did the Neanderthal die out? Well, the modern human evolved in Africa and spread to areas worldwide, such as Europe. Their bodies were familiar with warm African weather, yet they were able to survive freezing cold winters. The exhibit credits the modern human's survival to their innovative tools, clothing, and creative ways of adjusting to these diverse surroundings.
On the other hand, while one would expect a species accustomed to ice ages and climate fluctuations to survive under these conditions, it was actually during a cold spell that Neanderthal numbers dwindled significantly. Neanderthals originally evolved in Europe and moved to warmer parts of the country and as far as Asia during cold periods. During a particularly cold season, Neanderthals were actually unable to move back to areas they once traveled to during those times as the presence of the modern humans there had prevented them from doing so. With nowhere else to go, the Neanderthals fell victim to intense weather conditions and eventually, starvation and death.
Research says that Neanderthals harbored almost all the behaviors of members of Homo sapiens who lived around the same time. They were skilled toolmakers and big game hunters. Neanderthals had basic language skills and participated in a ritual not practiced by any earlier humans or primates: burying their dead and occasionally marking their graves with offerings.
Overall, the experience of immersing oneself into the life of a Neanderthal was both highly informative and fascinating. This species proved to be resilient, competent, and intelligent in adapting to the environment around them, yet descended into extinction regardless. I was impressed yet saddened to learn about the events surrounding their gradual extinction.
My knowledge of Neanderthals expanded into something it had never reached the depths of before. Rather than leaving it at surface-level information, my views on this fascinating species were broadened and gave me a greater respect for our closest extinct relative. From an anthropological standpoint, this project definitely gave me greater understanding of human society in general, as well as their culture and progression through time.
This project was a learning experience and an enjoyable experience all in one. No longer does the Neanderthal seem worlds away in their existence. Once their life and similarities to the modern human were examined thoroughly, they seemed to be closer than ever. In reality, they were never far at all; we simply experienced this earth at different times in history.
Questions to consider:
1. How different would life be today if Neanderthals had not gone extinct, and instead continued their lineage to the present day alongside the modern human?
2. Researchers say Neanderthals had basic communication skills, but did not communicate and speak to each other the way humans do today. What do you think were some ways they attempted to communicate with each other?
1. How different would life be today if Neanderthals had not gone extinct, and instead continued their lineage to the present day alongside the modern human?
2. Researchers say Neanderthals had basic communication skills, but did not communicate and speak to each other the way humans do today. What do you think were some ways they attempted to communicate with each other?
References
Smithsonian:
National Museum of Natural History. (n.d). David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins.
Retrieved December 3, 2019, from https://naturalhistory.si.edu/exhibits/david-h-koch-hall-human-origins.
Smithsonian:
National Museum of Natural History. (2019). Homo neanderthalensis. Retrieved
December 4, 2019, from http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/homo-neanderthalensis.
1. I imagine that Neanderthals would have to be partially integrated into human society, considering that they still exhibit many of the same human behaviors despite their relative lack of sophistication. However, it's likely that they would face heavy discrimination for their differences and lack of higher-level thinking.
ReplyDelete2. If they couldn't communicate and speak together in similar ways as humans, it's likely that they communicated through gestures and (primate-like) grunts.
1. Just as Jack said, I feel as if society would be much more different. One thing that stood out was what Jack said and that is the understanding of certain things. Having a hard time coping with the world we have today, it would be a great struggle. Imagine moving to a new town and a new school it would stink. New friends, new teachers, and everything. Its hard to cope with new things.
Delete2. One thing they probably used was movement. Hand gestures and the such. They maybe got their message through yelling or screeching. Interesting that so long ago we couldn't even speak a language.