neanderthalensis

Homo neanderthalensis, commonly referred to as the Neanderthals, is an extinct hominin species that inhabited Europe and western Asia from roughly 400,000 to 40,000 years ago. In taxonomy, the species name is neanderthalensis; many authorities place it in the genus Homo as a separate species, while some classify it as Homo sapiens neanderthalensis, a subspecies of Homo sapiens.

Fossils associated with Neanderthals were first identified in 1856 in the Neander Valley near Düsseldorf, Germany, giving the group its name. Anatomically, Neanderthals were relatively short and robust, with a powerfully built skeleton, a prominent brow ridge, a midfacial projection, a wide nasal aperture, and a brain size comparable to, or slightly larger than, that of modern humans.

Technologies and subsistence reflect adaptation to cold environments. They used Mousterian tool technology, including Levallois-like core methods, hunted large game, and employed fire and animal hides for clothing. There is evidence of symbolic behavior in some populations, such as personal adornments and possibly deliberate burials, though interpretations vary and remain debated.

Genetic analyses show that Neanderthals interbred with early modern humans. Non-African modern human populations today carry about 1–2% Neanderthal DNA, reflecting admixture that occurred tens of thousands of years ago after Homo sapiens left Africa.

Neanderthals disappeared from most of their range around 40,000 years ago, likely due to a combination of climate change, competition with Homo sapiens, and demographic pressures. Remains are found across Europe and western Asia, with traces of Neanderthal ancestry detectable in present-day populations.