Neanderthal

Neanderthals were an extinct group of archaic humans, usually classified as *Homo neanderthalensis*, that lived in Europe and western and central Asia during the Middle to Late Pleistocene.

Neanderthals were an extinct group of archaic humans, usually classified as *Homo neanderthalensis*, that lived in Europe and western and central Asia during the Middle to Late Pleistocene. They were closely related to modern humans and interbred with *Homo sapiens* before disappearing about 40,000 years ago.

Classification and range

Neanderthals are usually treated as a separate species, though some authorities have classified them as a subspecies of modern humans. They inhabited large parts of Europe and western and central Asia during the Pleistocene. They are widely regarded as the closest extinct relatives of modern humans.

Physical traits

Neanderthals were generally shorter and more robust than *Homo sapiens*, with broad chests, strong limbs, and large skulls. Their bodies were short, stocky, and powerfully built. Average adult height estimates are roughly 1.50 to 1.75 metres, depending on sex and source.

Culture and behaviour

They used stone tools, controlled fire, hunted large animals, and are associated with burial of the dead and care for injured individuals. Some evidence also suggests complex communication and symbolic behaviour.

Extinction and legacy

Neanderthals disappeared by about 40,000 years ago, although exact timing varies by region and source. Their genetic legacy remains in modern human populations through ancient interbreeding. Neanderthal DNA survives in many people today, especially outside Africa.