The Neanderthals

      The people we call Neanderthals lived between 100 000 and 40 000 years ago at a time when Europe and Asia were in the grip of the last ice age. The Neanderthals, who were named after the Neander Valley in Germany, where the first skeleton was found in 1856, were a powerfully built people. If it were possible to meet some Neanderthals, their physical appearance would immediately tell us that they were not human beings of today. From a distance, you would notice that Neanderthals were heavy-set people with an average height of 160 cm and a weight of about 73 kg. Their arms and legs would seem stubby, since their forearms and lower legs were shorter than ours. These creatures were also heavily muscled, especially at the shoulders and neck. As you drew nearer, you might be struck by their facial features. Neanderthal eyebrows rested on prominently bulging, bony ridges, while their nose, jaws, and teeth protruded forward. the lower jaw sloped back so that the Neanderthals had no chin, and their eyes lay sunken in deep sockets. Finally, if you were to shake hands with a Neanderthal, you would feel the firm grip of a large and powerful hand.

Physical features of Neanderthals:

- They had average height of 160 cm and weight of 73 kg
- Forearms and lower legs were shorter
- Muscles around shoulders and neck were incredible
- Eyebrows were bulging on bony ridges
- Nose, jaws, and teeth protruded forward
- No chin because the lower jaw was sloped back
- Eyes lay sunken in deep sockets
- Large and powerful hands
- Pregnant cycle was 12 months

Conclusion:

Neanderthals had big strong physically developed features. With an average weight of 73 kg and height of 160 cm, they were short and sturdy. However, they were not fast neither in thinking or running. Their postures, length of arms and legs, and facial features would somehow resemble more like an animal. Based on that information, we can assume that Homo sapiens sapiens, us, who were taller, faster, and more intellectually developed gave the upper-hand to Homo Neanderthals.

Writing: ECHOES from the Past published by McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.