Neanderthals: Our Misunderstood Prehistoric Relatives

Once thought primitive, we now know Neanderthals were intelligent and even interbred with modern humans—many people today carry some Neanderthal DNA. Turns out, a lot of our jokes against our evolutionary counterparts are …misguided. New research continues to bust myths left and right – shedding light on the surprising intricacies of Neanderthal communities. ___ A little more information: Neanderthals are often portrayed as unintelligent “cavemen,” but modern research reveals a far more complex picture. Neanderthals made sophisticated tools, used fire, wore clothing, and built shelters. They hunted large animals in organized groups and likely had spoken language. Evidence also shows they cared for the sick, buried their dead, and may have engaged in artistic practice, such as creating cave art and wearing ornaments. Despite their intelligence and adaptability, Neanderthals vanished around 40,000 years ago. The reasons behind their extinction are still being studied—potential causes include competition with Homo sapiens, climate change and population decline. It’s also possible they were gradually absorbed into modern human populations through interbreeding. Their story challenges long-held assumptions about what it means to be human. As new discoveries continue to emerge, Neanderthals are increasingly seen not as distant evolutionary figures, but as close relatives who contributed to our shared history—and whose legacy lives on in our DNA. #neanderthals #homosapiens #humanevolution #anthropology #prehistorichumans Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Want to learn more about the history of Neanderthals? Read here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/heres-what-we-now-know-about-neanderthals-180983344/ Researchers tracked down when Neanderthals and early modern humans interbred using ancient genomes: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-track-down-when-neanderthals-and-early-modern-humans-interbred-using-ancient-genomes-180985665/ Did a Neanderthal who lived 43,000 years ago paint a red nose on a rock that looked like a face? https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/did-a-neanderthal-who-lived-43000-years-ago-paint-a-red-nose-on-a-rock-that-looked-like-a-face-180986704/ Learn more about the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's Human Origins program: https://humanorigins.si.edu/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Dan Wolf Video Editor & Narrator: Trina Espinoza Graphic Designer: Kevin Schoenblum Illustration Animator: Sierra Theobald