Neanderthals are the type of prehistoric homo sapien that everyone knows, or thinks they know. The name “Neanderthal” has come to be the general term the majority of society uses to describe all early homo sapiens but as I learned in this week’s lessons, Neanderthals are just one species of early homo sapiens. Specifically, they are the type of homo sapien that lived in Europe/Eurasia 800,000 to 500,000 years ago. I think the main effect of the discovery of Neanderthals is the realization and understanding that different regions played home to different species of early homo sapiens. The discovery of the Neanderthal species gave scientists a more expansive knowledge base about what these early homo sapiens were like. And now that they had more and more Neanderthal remains and they were able to learn more about how they looked and behaved, they were able to deduce that homo sapiens did not evolve linearly. Meaning, it was not one consistent species throughout the entire world that evolved at the same rate to become the same thing, which would be modern homo sapiens, or humans. Originally, that was the belief that it is simply one species that evolved over time. I would say that a good number of people still believe this as well. However, scientific discovery, such as that of the discovery of Neanderthals, has changed that initial belief.
This ability to determine the presence of different species of homo sapiens comes from the ways paleontologists have studied Neanderthal fossils. Using general observations of Neanderthal skulls, they were able to notice repeat characteristics while comparing them to other Neanderthal skulls to construct a rough outline of what Neanderthals looked like. Using these observations and ideas of appearance, researchers can compare this to other discovered early species and make the general observation that they consistently and significantly look different. This helps researchers determine a difference in the early species existed. It does not stop with the skull, however. Other parts of the body, such as height, bone thickness, and body proportions have helped researchers see the differences in the species.
Another way researchers have studied Neanderthals is by using their actual DNA. Taking DNA from well-preserved fossils has allowed researchers to not only compare early homo sapien DNA to modern humans, but compare the different species of homo sapiens has allowed them to differentiate between them.
Again, I point these things about because I believe the discovery of Neanderthals has added to the understanding of human evolution by showing the differences in early homo sapiens. Thus, these research techniques have helped expand that knowledge. This is obviously a huge contribution to our understanding of human evolution, as it allows more theories to arise about how our evolution has come to be and that it holds weight. I think that if more people knew that “neanderthals” were not the only form of early homo sapiens to have walked this Earth, we would have a better perspective on human beings and our physical form today.
I hope I explained my thoughts well, but ultimately it is a matter of the discovery in general that distinguishes this is incredibly important.
Hi!
I really enjoyed reading your blog post and I also found it super interesting to learn about Neanderthals! Prior to taking this class, I didn’t really think too much of the term or where it stood as far as our evolutionary history, so it was super interesting to learn about what they actually were in terms of where they lied on the timeline as well as what set them apart from other hominids and where they were located regionally. I also think the discovery of Neanderthals was super crucial to understanding our diversity and history!
Hi, I think your post on the single evolutionary species is well written, I believe you have explained thoughts in great deal and I like that you have used various sources to state your claim. I do agree, people assume that evolution occur once for one of the species that turn into human beings overnight, I think our we do take nature for granted and forgot that evolution in nature takes time. Neanderthals have always been interesting ancestors for me to study, reading the blog has given certainty, into living hood of Neanderthals to compare and contrast what are some of the similarities they share with homo erectus and what are some of the distinctive traits to them. All the information learned and acquired from lecture and reading is that we have early human remains that are in abundance and in good quality that we are able to learn so much but them.