This paper will examine the characteristics that it takes to being considered a species that is fully human. We will be focusing on who the Neantherthals and the Denisovans were, and what evidence do we have. Lastly, based through research, we will conclude whether Neanderthals were, and how they lived. Lastly, based through research, we will conclude whether Neanderthal’s meet the requirements to being considered fully human. Being human, we hold certain identifying characteristics that separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom. Modern day humans are able to walk upright and our bodies are able to withstand long distance running. More over, our heads are big and round, our jaws do not protrude out. Most importantly, we have face forward facing eyes. These are just certain physical characteristics that makes us human. Before us, we can see that our ancestors had primitive features, who were adapted to living in trees. In addition, the use of tools and other skills allowed early humans to adapt to new areas. The use of tools allowed for …show more content…
For the most part, Neanderthals are physically and genetically similar to modern humans of today. For example, a small percentage of 4% of Europeans and Asians have inherited DNA from Neanderthals (Smiley, Unit 11). This implies that Neanderthals and modern humans were interbreeding. Moreover, the body structure differed within the rib cage. Trento Holiday made an astonishing observation, he noted that the Neanderthal rib cage flared out, which does not happen in humans. In other words, the Neanderthal had no waist. Because of this, Neanderthals were built for cold adaptation and were able to retain heat much better (Video, “Neanderthal: The Rebirth”). The Neanderthals did not completely vanish; we see them today. Some individuals carry their DNA like Europeans and
Over the last few hundred years, more and more has been added to the world’s fossil collection, fossils from all over the world. New theories have been created and old theories have almost been proven about the evolution of man. For example, we have proof that different species of man existed with certain types of DNA sequences and instincts, some we may not have anymore, or some that other species did not have back then. Even though it is subjected to much debate, one of the most widely accepted theories however, is that Homo sapiens interbred with the slightly more primitive species of man, the Neanderthal.
Around 1.8 million years ago, two hominids were born, first the Homo Erectus and then the Neanderthals. Although the two very different humans. However, were they that different? Our ancestors were very versatile hominids. They lived in various places and lived in a variety of ways. The Homo Erectus and Neanderthals were all special in their ways. They had similarities and differences that set them apart. They had similarities, but in the same way, their differences helped them survive if they had not adapted to how they lived they would have lasted the same time that their ancestors have lived. The Neanderthals lived for an average lifespan 30 years. They had to have some mistake that decreased their lifespan because if the Homo Erectus had done the same, there’s a chance that we might not be here now. Their differences set the future that we live in today. These
Even though Neanderthals had some physiological differences between humans, there are proves to say that Neanderthals had some characteristics that related them to humans, and they were really intelligent like
They lived in a variety of areas across Europe and the Middle East. Fossils of neanderthal remains have been found all the way from Europe to Western Asia. There was a point in time thousands of years ago when modern day humans actually lived alongside neanderthals up until that time that they became extinct. The physical characteristics of neanderthals relates strongly back to their environment. They were prominent in the time period of the Ice Age, hence their physical attributes were forms of adaption to their cold environment, trying to steer clear of the ice and snow. Neanderthals travel in smaller packs due to the fact that they traveled so frequently. Researchers have found smaller campsites left behind be Neanderthals suggesting the smaller group sizes. Due to the fact that they migrated through a variety of climates and habitats, the neanderthals physical characteristics such as shorter shin bones and arms barrel-shaped chests, and larger brains helped them to adapt to cold
The first morphological features that later would become typical of Neanderthals, the projecting middle part of the face and a depression at the back of the skull, have been observed in fossils found in Europe as old as 400,000 years (Stringer & Hublin, 1999). These fossils belonged to Homo heidelbergensis, which in one of the various evolutionary scenarios that ties Neanderthals and modern humans is considered the ancestor of both Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens (Hubmlin, 2009).
There is evidence to suggest that Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens had coexisted for approximately 35-40,000 years, (Fagan 2010) from around 60,000 years ago to 25,000 years ago when they finally went extinct (Gibbon 2001). Anthropologists are still uncertain what the cause of their extinction was. This paper will analyze three main theories of Neanderthal extinction. The first theory is the competition theory, which claims that the Homo sapiens and Neanderthals had to compete for resources, ultimately leading to their demise. The second theory I will discuss is the climate change theory, which claims that Homo sapiens lived while Neanderthals died because they were better adapted to the climate. The last theory I will discuss is the possible “extinction through absorption” theory which claims the Neanderthal interbred with the Homo sapiens and became one species. In this paper I will also be comparing the technologies, and diets of both species. In addition, I will look at the anatomic relation between the Neanderthals and Homo sapiens, how their body shape and size differed, and if this gave any advantage to one side or the other. My thesis for this paper will state that Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis had co-existed but the disappearance of the Neanderthal in Eurasia is due to the appearance of the more culturally advanced and genetically superior Homo sapiens and the failure of the Neanderthal to adapt in an evolving climate.
The Earth’s Children series is a series of books written by Jean Auel, set in Europe somewhere between thirty and twenty-five thousand years ago. The Clan of the Cave Bears is the first book in the series. During this time in history there were two different species of human beings living in the area. There were Cro-Magnons, which were similar to today’s humans, but there were also Neanderthals. Neanderthals were a thicker and stockier species better suited for colder climates. The book is based on the assumption that Cro-Magnon and Neanderthals co-existed whereas modern anthropologists assumed that these very different varieties were enemies and that modern humans had killed off the Neanderthals.
Neanderthals are the reason why white people have survived in today’s society. They have not only survived though, they became the leaders of today’s world. White people are associated with colonialism, hockey, politics, and business. They are such masterful beings, there must have been a superior gene that has been passed onto them from the Neanderthals. These individuals are leading the world into a positive direction due to leadership skills, and likability. It is important that Neanderthals interbred with Homo sapiens to allow life of the present day white population. Neanderthals were pale, strong, suave creature who seduced Homo sapiens. Traits that many white people have. Thankfully, Neanderthal blood is still alive within white people making them sexy survivalists who have the ability to dominate the world today. This will be proven by looking at their genes impacting survival, humanities preference for them as mates and leaders, and leadership qualities through politics and business.
The ancestral lines of Neanderthals and modern humans is split roughly about 800,000 years ago, making them our closest relatives in the hominid ancestry. Neanderthals inhabited Europe and parts of the Western Asia before going extinct around 30,000 years ago. Neanderthals made and used a range of tools, they were able to control fire, make and wore clothing, were very skilled hunters of large animals however also ate plant foods, they lived in shelters, and occasionally made symbolic or ornamental objects, which no previous hominid species, had ever practiced this representative and complex conduct. Over this essay we will be covering some elemental information on Neanderthals, their differences and similarities anatomically with modern humans, along with their differences in behavior, and finally giving some possible implications for the timing of the development of culture.
Humans know or understand the theory of evolution and how they evolved from apes, but there is always talk of a missing link between apes and modern humans. Apes did not just suddenly evolve into modern day humans. Apes evolved into another species that fall into the relation of modern humans. This is what the missing link is referring to; we call the species hominins. Hominins comprised of many species actually, including but not limited to, Australopithecus afarensis and Homo erectus. Homo erectus may have been a direct descendant of modern Homo sapiens. These species hold strong evidence that they are the missing link between apes and modern humans. There are many pieces of evidence that lay the path of evolution from these species to modern humans, “…these include anatomy, living primate behavior, and genetic relationships” (Stanford, 237). Australopithecus afarensis comes first, existing about 3.9 to 2.9 million years ago, with intermediate anatomical traits between living apes and modern humans; their fossils were found in Africa (Yukimoto). About a million to two million years later, the species Homo erectus came into existence and lots of evidence has been found about this particular species, in fact, it was probable that it was the first species to leave Africa (Yukimoto). These species are significant in the evolution of modern humans. We do not have a clear path or even understand why these species emerged when they did or how they, in theory, eventually evolved into modern humans. We can only assume these things, by using various evolutionary processes such as natural selection, genetic bottleneck, and many more.
Most of their evidence comes from the fossilized bones of Neanderthals and Cro- Magnons, or modern man’s ancestors (Shreeve, 150). There is a definite difference between their bone structures, and it may be a significant enough difference to divide them into species. There is a set of traits that distinguishes Neanderthals. Their general proportions are short, robust, and strong. Males and females of all ages have thick bones, and very pronounced muscle and ligament attachment sites. They also have distinct facial and cranial features. They have a large skull with no chin, a significant brow-ridge, and a large nasal opening (Shreeve, 49-150). They have large brains, around 1400cc, that protrude in the back, causing an occipital bun in the skull (Lecture, 4/19). Cro-Magnons on the other hand look more like humans do today. They are more slender and not as muscular, with chins and rounder skulls with slightly smaller brains among other traits.
Neanderthals and modern humans coexisted for well over 100,000 years. Then suddenly Homo neandertalensis began to die out and surrender the earth to Homo sapiens. Paleontologists and anthropologists have entertained several possibilities to the causes of this event: interbreeding among Neanderthals and humans, competition for natural resources, and Darwin’s theory of “survival of the fittest.” What the real cause has been has plagued scientists for years. Now, due to an international research team from Germany, those possibilities have been even further deduced, making it easier to pinpoint the exact reason Homo neandertalensis became extinct.
...gardless if they interbreed or not with modern humans, Neanderthal DNA is 99.7 percent identical to present-day human DNA. DNA study showed that most humans have a little Neanderthal in them, at least 1 to 4 percent of a person's genetic makeup.
“The scientific study of how humans developed did not begin until the 1800s in Europe. Until that time, people relied on religious explanations of how humans came into existence. Starting in the 1500s a scientific revolution began to sweep Europe. Thinkers started using scientific methods and experiments to try to better understand the world and the creatures living in it. Eventually these methods were turned to the question of human origins” (The Nature Of Human Origins, 1). Earth made it possible for species to change over time because Ancient Earth provides ability to plenty of time.The Homo Sapien a is very complex creature. The species started off very simple by living in caves and surviving with little food and then later evolved into a species that were able to do many more complex things. The first species was Sahelanthropus tchadensis They were one of the most simple humans in that time period and on. They had very small skulls compared to Homo Sapiens today and their motor skills were just the same. We have evolved and changed for the better both mentally and physically. The Evolution of Homo Sapiens started off simple, such as the Neanderthals, and now we are the most advanced species to ever walk the planet so far.
What evidence shows the changing from the early hominids to the modern humans? Throughout the human evolution body parts like legs and harms have changed for the better. By the early hominids being biped, meaning they are able to stand and even walk on two feet, it helped them to be able to do more things like getting around more and help with their tool making and hunting. A lot of the fossils discovered were found in the Great Rift Valley in East Africa, which contained many different lakes and small rivers. For many years researchers have been finding new species. These species have been named Australopithicus, robust australopithecines , Orrorin tugenensis, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, neanderthal, and Homo sapiens. These early hominids and modern humans really show off how the features and behaviors have really changed in time.