Neanderthals were smarter than orangutans and monkeys. Why did they go extinct 30 thousand years ago?

Neanderthals lived during the ice age. They often hide in limestone caves in Eurasia to avoi

Neanderthals were smarter than orangutans and monkeys. Why did they go extinct 30 thousand years ago?

Neanderthals lived during the ice age. They often hide in limestone caves in Eurasia to avoid snow and other unpleasant weather. Many of their fossils were found in caves, which makes them usually considered as "Neanderthals"

Like other humans, Neanderthals originated in Africa, but migrated to Eurasia long before other humans. Neanderthals lived in Eurasia, as far north and west as Britain, crossed a part of the Middle East and arrived in Uzbekistan. The public estimates that the highest population of Neanderthals is about 70,000, although some scientists greatly estimate that this number will be reduced by about 3,500 women.

Although humans may have interbred with Neanderthals a long time ago, this pairing may rarely produce offspring. Although humans may have interbred with Neanderthals a long time ago, this pairing may rarely produce offspring.

Their stocky figure is an evolutionary adaptation to cold weather because it consolidates heat. A wide nose helps to humidify and warm cold air. It differs from other humans in its open funnel-shaped chest, open pelvis and strong fingers and toes. About 1% of Neanderthals had red hair, light skin and even freckles.

Social structure

Neanderthals lived in nuclear families. Finding ancient or deformed Neanderthal bones shows that they took care of their patients and those who could not take care of themselves. Neanderthals usually live to be around 30 years old, although some people live longer. It is recognized that Neanderthals buried their dead, although it is controversial whether they left carved bone fragments as funerary objects.

I don't know if they have a language, although the huge size and complex nature of their brains make this possible.

The stone tools used by Neanderthals were similar to those used by other early humans, including blades and scrapers made of stone chips. Over time, they used materials such as bones and antlers to make more complex tools. Neanderthals used a natural glue, and later used asphalt to attach the top of the stone to a wooden pole, making a powerful hunting spear.

Neanderthals had some control over fire. Even in theory, they built ships to sail in the Mediterranean.

Neanderthals were mainly carnivores, and the bad climate caused them to occasionally turn to cannibalism. Recently, however, scientists found that Neanderthals actually ate cooked vegetables quite regularly.

The hybridization between humans and Neanderthals

Perhaps the most controversial aspect of Neanderthals' life is whether they interbred with other human species. The answer is still vague, and academic views range from thinking that they must be mixed-race to thinking that these two groups do not exist on the earth at the same time.

Erik Trinhaus, an expert on Neanderthals, has long advocated the hybrid hypothesis, but when a study published in Science on 20 10 confirmed that the genes of Neanderthals were 99.7% identical to those of modern humans (99.8% identical to those of chimpanzees), this theory really caught fire. The researcher Neanderthal Genome Project found that, on average, 2.5% of non-African genomes were composed of Neanderthal genes. Ordinary modern Africans do not have Neanderthal genes. According to this information, the hybrid hypothesis can be supported, because it shows that Neanderthals and other species only bred a paper published in PLOS magazine 20 12 when other humans left Africa and entered Eurasia. They may have crossed it 37,000 years ago.

A recent study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics on June 201July found that the genomes of modern human groups originating from outside Africa contain 1.8% to 2.6% of Neanderthal DNA. Michael Daniman, a computational biologist and lead author of Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, told Life Science that Neanderthal DNA is one of the sources of variation of many characteristics of modern humans. [Your hair color and sleeping habits may come from Neanderthals]

In another study on 20 17, Kai Prufer, a paleogeneticist at Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, found that modern human genes entered the Neanderthal gene bank from130,000 to145,000 years ago. [You may be more burrowing than you think]

If this hybridization happened, why didn't modern people carry more Neanderthal genes? One possible reason involves male sex chromosomes. Scientists have found that the Y chromosome of Neanderthals may have prevented the successful hybridization of two lineages; According to the research published on April 7, 20 16, if Neanderthal men and modern human women come together, chromosomes may have created conditions that often lead to abortion. In this study, Fernando Mendes, a population geneticist at Stanford University, and his colleagues found three mutations on the Y chromosome of Neanderthal men, and the molecules produced by these mutations can trigger the immune response of women during pregnancy. These immune responses are related to abortion.

The hybridization theory is questioned. The researchers used a new radiocarbon dating technique to re-examine the bones in southern Spain used in early research. They found the bones of Neanderthals over 50,000 years old. It was not until 42,000 years ago that people were considered to have settled in this area, which means that they are unlikely to live together and cross.

If humans and Neanderthals did not cross, the similar genomes of humans and Neanderthals may be the result of the common African ancestors of the two groups.

disappear

No one knows the exact reason for the extinction of Neanderthals. Some scholars theoretically believe that gradual or drastic climate change has led to their death, while others blame it on insufficient diet. Some people speculate that humans killed Neanderthals. Until recently, Neanderthals were not extinct, but simply interbred with humans until they were absorbed by our species. This assumption was welcomed.

About 30,000-40,000 years ago, there were a group of intelligent species on the earth. They are cavemen. On the earth at that time, their thinking and skills were advanced. Although they are already in a savage state, they are at least much smarter than orangutans and monkeys.

Unfortunately, these intelligent creatures suddenly disappeared. In fact, they have not evolved, but have become extinct. The only things that can be found are their bones and ancient and crude weapons. Now, what we can do is to use their remains to try to restore and reshape their appearance.

Although they are primitive people, they have many similarities with us. In fact, the two are so similar that our ancestors interbred with them.

However, there are many differences between them. The most prominent point is that their eyes are surprisingly big, twice as big as ours. Big eyes mean good eyesight, but big eyes can also be fatal. Yes, according to scientists' speculation, the extinction of Neanderthals was directly related to their big eyes. It was these extraordinarily large eyes that brought them disaster.

When did Neanderthals appear? Scientists believe that they first appeared 250,000 years ago and traveled all over Europe and Asia.

Our ancestor Homo sapiens lived in Africa about 200 thousand years ago, and then evolved and migrated, gradually becoming modern human beings. Of course, these are all described in the theory of evolution. In fact, many scientists do not agree that Homo sapiens originated in Africa. They think that there are different kinds of human beings, which originated from different regions, not just Africa.

About 45,000 years ago, Homo sapiens arrived in Europe and found that Neanderthals had thrived here. Of course, war is inevitable, and the law of the jungle tells us that the law of the jungle is the key for both animals and people.

The latest research estimates that our ancestors lived with them for 5000 years despite the war. But in the end, they became extinct, about 40 thousand years ago.

By comparing and analyzing the skulls of modern humans and Neanderthals, Professor Pierce found that the visual areas of Neanderthals' eyes and brains were larger. Therefore, the part of the brain used for social communication function is less, and the other parts of the brain are correspondingly smaller.

Theoretically, they can't use most of their brains to deal with the development of complex social functions. Homo sapiens could use their brains better, so Neanderthals were at a disadvantage in front of Homo sapiens. Insufficient use of the brain makes them lack the ability to form a strong team, so they can't get the support and help they need. Homo sapiens, on the other hand, understands the spirit of team fighting and hunting, and they know that the power of unity is powerful.

Although Neanderthals living in the northern part of high latitudes were stronger and stronger, they were still weak in front of Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens killed them one by one as wild animals, just like the dwarf "flores". Homo sapiens finally succeeded in exterminating these guys with big eyes, developed limbs and simple minds.

This statement sounds funny, but it has been recognized by many scientists and biologists. Of course, most scientists still disagree with this view, just at present, but this is the best evidence to overthrow this view.

Because Neanderthals were better than orangutans and monkeys.