Neandopedia - Facts about the Neandertal

Neandopedia - Facts about the Neandertal
	Like an encyclopedia, our 'Neandopedia' presents many basic facts concerning the Neandertal man. We should also view the descriptions of fossil Neandertals.

	Name
	Neandertal (Neanderthal)

	Name Translation
	(Human of the) Neander Valley The 'old German' word for valley is 'Thal'. It changed to 'Tal' in the early 20th century.

	Family Tree
	(View the tree) ORDER : Primates INFRAORDER : Catarrhini SUPERFAMILY : Hominoidea FAMILY : Hominidae GENUS : Homo

	Species Described
	Homo neanderthalensis, King, 1864 H. sapiens neanderthalensis, Campbell, 1964

	Range
	Europe - Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Spain Middle-east - Iran, Iraq, Israel

	Habitat
	Climates seasonally mild to nearly arctic
	Below 1000 meters elevation except Teshik-Tash at 3150 meters

	Time
	Pleistocene - 28 to 230 thousand years ago
	Eemian interglacial through Wurm glaciation

	First Discovery Areas
	Engis, Belgium, 1830 - remains unrecognized until 1936 Forbes Quarry, Gibraltar, 1848 - remains at Garrison Library Neander Valley, Feldhofer Grotto, 1856 Type Specimen - near Dusseldorf, Germany

	Discovered by
	German quarry workmen, August 1856

	Recognized By
	Johann C. von Fuhlrott, 1856 : 1.1mb Schoolteacher and amateur natural historian


	First Presented By
	Herman Schaaffhausen, June 1857 : 976kb

	Named By
	William King, 1856 : 344kb

	Earliest Specimen
	Braincase from Ehringsdorf, Germany - probably 200,000 years old

	Physical Appearance
	The Neandertal's physical appearance is similar to modern Homo sapiens only adapted to colder environments. Shorter and heavier with shorter limbs, and generally more robust than modern man. Other distinguishing characteristics differentiated them such as a slight bowing of the limbs or hands more developed for gripping power than fine manipulation. Two main differences in facial appearance are a protruding face and a lower, flatter braincase with a marked bulge in the rear. A compact form complimented with powerful muscles making them extremely strong for their size.

	Height
	4.9 - 5.7 feet

	Weight
	Females ≈ 130-140 pounds Males ≈ 165-176 pounds

	Braincase
	1200-1740 cubic centimeters

	Culture
	Mousterian (Tool Tradition) Named after rock shelter Le Moustier, France

	Lifespan
	Approximately 30-35 years on average. The La Chapelle-aux-Saints specimen may be in the range of 40 years old.

	Language
	The bone for speech is present, but evidence is restricted to associated factors, such as formal burials, which point to a cooperative society.

	Early Analysis
	Ancient Dutchman; J.A. Wagner Celt; H. von Mayer Mongolian Cossack of War of 1814; F. Mayer Pathological (microcephalic) idiot, R. Virchow