The Rest Is History

127. Neanderthals

36 snips
Dec 2, 2021
Join Chris Stringer, a leading researcher in human evolution from the Natural History Museum, as he unravels the mysteries of Neanderthals. Explore their sophisticated social structures and profound connection to the environment. Learn about their complex behaviors and interactions with early Homo sapiens, challenging our notions of humanity. The discussion also touches on Neanderthal cultural legacies, their potential vocalizations, and the intriguing impact of interbreeding on modern human genetics, all while teasing out the echoes of their existence in today's world.
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ANECDOTE

First Neanderthal Discoveries

  • The first Neanderthal remains were found in the Neander Valley, Germany in 1856.
  • Earlier Neanderthal finds in Belgium (1830) and Gibraltar (1848) went unrecognized initially.
ANECDOTE

Early Misconceptions

  • Some believed the Neanderthal remains were from a diseased modern human, even a Cossack soldier.
  • They theorized the soldier's brow ridge developed due to pain from war wounds.
INSIGHT

Neanderthals and Human Evolution

  • The discovery of Neanderthals fueled the debate on human evolution and racial hierarchy.
  • Some viewed Neanderthals as a primitive link in human evolution, while others saw them as a distinct species.
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