The Neanderthal is a very interesting hominoid. The discovery of the neanderthal led to new understandings of how modern homo sapiens came to be and how they essentially conquered the world. It was unique to know that neanderthals had large brains but their capacity was less than homo sapiens. It was evident that they lacked the same development as homo sapiens due to archaeological finds of neanderthals. Simplistic tools show that they have some capacity, but they never developed the same tool making abilities as their human counterparts. There has never been any art found from neanderthals while there have been numerous sites where cave painting, small carvings, and more are found from humans who were living in the same era. Before taking this class, I would have assumed that neanderthals ability to create simple tools and evidence that they were capable hunters was definite evidence of being developed and well advanced for their time, but now knowing that chimps and other non human primate have those same skills suggests that not a lot of advancement is needed to do such things.
Fossilized remains of neanderthals gave us a good idea of how they looked and how they were different than us. They were shorter and stockier with flatter feet. Modern homo sapiens feet were well developed for long walking distances making travel much easier. This may have been one of the important physical evolutionary traits that allowed modern humans to walk from Africa to Europe, Asia, and even to the Americas. Anatomically modern humans not only could walk further distances, but they also practiced moving much more due to their shelter habits. Archaeological sites have found that neanderthals lived in caves and natural shelters and so did humans, but modern humans also began building shelters. They were building shelters out of wood and animal bones. This allowed them to continually move, following herds of animals and gaining much more resources than their Neanderthal counterparts, who for the most part stayed close to home.
The video, The Neandertal in Us, really brought to light the fact that it is quite common for humans of European or Asian descent to have genes that were carried over from neanderthals. The hypothesis that modern homo sapiens bred with the neanderthals that lived in Europe and Eurasia was given credibility since those with African descent lacked certain traits, and those who stayed in Africa never got the chance to interbreed. This has led to a great deal when studying human diversity. In the video, they continued to talk about how there are specific mutations that are more commonly found in groups who share the neanderthal and modern human make up. This is interesting to me because at some point there was a division where humans and Neanderthals split up. Both then evolved on their own but then later once modern humans began leaving Africa they reconnected. Before homo sapiens ultimately wiped out the neanderthals, we exchanged genes once again. This is interesting because both had the same opportunity to evolve to be successful but the homo sapiens developed to have taller and skinnier frames, more developed brains, and feet better equipped for long travels.
I think its really interesting to see how we have evolved as a species. Like you mentioned in your post, neanderthals lived in caves and natural shelters and so did humans, but modern humans began building shelters. They were building shelters out of wood and animal bones. Now, we have buildings and shelters surrounding us made of all kinds of materials and very far from being made out of animal bones. I think its really interesting that all species have tried to create a shelter of some sort and the levels of shelters all differ in the sense of how evolved the species has come along. Studying the human diversity of species can indicate the different parts that we have “taken” or also share with them and show how we have come together as a species of all of our common ancestors.
Hey Zac! I also think the Neanderthal is a very interesting hominoid. I think this because They have so many features that are complex and different than us. I think it is very inserting how they had much larger brains. They also were much bulkier, shorter, and had more of a rounded crania. Studying Neanderthals has also let us learn that they had very large front teeth and small back teeth. Paleoanthropologists have also inferred that these hominids lived with little shelter, kind of cave like. before this week, I had no idea how many features have changed from Neanderthals compared to the modern day human. I am glad that I have learned so much about the old world and how these Neanderthals survived with certain features and characteristics.
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I think it is interesting that brain size is not proportional capacity. We often believe that the larger something is the more power and abilities it has. I wonder if the brains of neanderthals was less developed because there were not things that required a greater capacity for understanding. Over time when the neanderthals began to build shelters and walk I would assume that their brains were forced to develop even the slightest bit even if the size did not change drastically. I also think it’s interesting how much we have evolved from neanderthals even though they are our closest evolutionary point. We have learned an incredible amount from studying the skeletons and artifacts left behind from neanderthals. I am interested in seeing if the theories we have today are further challenged and reconsidered in the future.
Hi Zac! I find it very interesting that Neanderthals have large brains, but less capacity. I did my blog on the Homo Floresiensis and they actually have relatively small brains, but were able to make stone tools and use them to hunt small elephants despite being small in stature. I find it interesting that both of these early human species differed from what we would have expected in terms of brain size and functional capacity for every day living. I enjoyed how you not only indicated the skeletal differences in feet of Neanderthals and modern humans, but showed how it would have affected the ability to travel far distances. I think this showed how evolution has occurred to increase survival as modern humans. I find the topic of shelter interesting because each species have looked for shelter and known its importance, which shows the evolution of how shelters have become more sophisticated over time as species have more brain capacity.
Madison Diamond
Hi Zac, I also thought that it was interesting that Neanderthals had larger brains but less capacity. I focused on the Homo floresiensis and compared to Neanderthals they had much smaller brains. However even with a brain the size of a chimp they were still able to create stone tools and become hunters as well. Just insane that two different species in different parts of the world and evolution were able to come to similar positions in everyday life. I also liked that you discussed the difference between homo sapiens and Neanderthals like in terms of walking difference or being shelters. Even though we and the were doing it in different ways they were still living relatively similar lives. Altogether I found your blog post very interesting and it’s honestly crazy how much we can learn from skeletons and fossils!
I think the comparison you make between the tool making capabilities of chimps and Neanderthals is interesting. I also initially thought that tool making is a pivotal aspect of mental capacity. We saw throughout lecture that many of our hominin ancestors used stone tools. The first noted hominin to use stone tools was Homo habilis 2 million years ago with a brain averaging 630ccs – chimpanzees have a brain size averaging 400ccs. From then on, it was common to see hominins using stone tools in their various forms. I think the distinction to make between Neanderthal tools and modern, non-human primate tools is their permanence. Modern, non-human primates use sticks and branches and other such objects as tools, but they’re not as permanent and reusable as a stone tool. Large brains may indicate a logical understanding of reusable resources and the utility and convenience that provides.