While not conclusive for all sites, these discoveries hint that Neanderthals had a rich cognitive world, communicated using complex vocalizations, and expressed themselves symbolically. For decades, Neanderthals were depicted as brutish, unintelligent, and inferior. Much of this stereotype came from early misinterpretations—such as the first Neanderthal skeleton, which belonged to an elderly individual with arthritis and was mistakenly thought to represent the typical posture of the species.
The sequencing of the Neanderthal genome in 2010 was one of the most important milestones in anthropology. It confirmed interbreeding with modern humans and revealed that Neanderthal genes still influence aspects of modern health and biology—including immune responses, fat storage, and even sleep patterns. New models suggest Neanderthals lived in small, isolated groups. Their population size was likely much smaller than that of modern humans, making them more vulnerable to climate swings and environmental stress.
