Unveiling Neanderthals: New Discoveries Shed Light on Their Enigmatic Past

Recent discoveries have shed new light on the lives of Neanderthals, our closest-known relatives. Archaeological findings have revealed evidence of Neanderthals engaging in creative activities such as making rope, using pigments for body adornment, and creating jewelry. Studies of the Neanderthal genome have confirmed that interbreeding occurred between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. Research on brain development genes suggests potential cognitive differences between the two species. Neanderthals likely had a shorter childhood and smaller social networks compared to Homo sapiens. The decline of Neanderthals may have been influenced by factors such as environmental fluctuations and competition with Homo sapiens. However, their genetic legacy lives on in modern humans.