Physically, Neanderthals are short, and very robust and heavily built, especially in the facial area.  They are clearly a hominid adapted to live in colder, harsher climates.  Scientific inquiry has led to the examination of Neanderthals in comparison to the standing of modern homo sapiens.  DNA evidence has place Homo neanderthalensis outside the reaches of variation of modern DNA.

The type specimen of Homo neanderthalensis is the Neanderthal 1 cranium, from the Neander Valley, in Germany.

The Fossils:

~Found at Amud, Israel in 1961 by a Japanese excavation team

~Found at Amud, Israel in 1961 by a Japanese excavation team

~By Takashi Oguchi, from Dederiyeh, Syria, and contains the remains of a 2-year old child

~Found at Kebara Cave, Israel

~Found in 1982 at Kebara Cave, Israel

~Dated to 60,000 years

~From Qafzeh, Israel

~Discovered by Ralph Solecki at Shanidar Cave in Northern Iraq

~By Ralph Solecki at Shanidar Cave, Iraq

~By Ralph Solecki at Shanidar Cave, Iraq

~"The Flower Burial" by Ralph Solecki

(Shanidar 4 are the bones in the center of the picture.  The bones of Shanidar 6 can be seen at the top center of the picture.)

~By Ralph Solecki at Shanidar Cave, Iraq

~By Ralph Solecki at Shanidar Cave, Iraq

(See Shanidar 4 picture)

~By Ralph Solecki at Shanidar Cave, Iraq

~From Skuhl, Israel

~This appears to be a transitional specimen.  Robust features place it borderline between Neanderthals and Archaic Homo Sapiens

~From Tabun, Israel

~Different dating techniques have produced far different results for the dating to the Tabun level "C" series.  Bones from this specimen have been dated to between 33,000 and 34,000 years old.  It is held that none of the specimens from the Tabun "C" series are older than 70,000 years

~From Tabun, Israel

~This mandible has been recognized as having more modern traits, and could be place with archaic Homo sapiens as well

~From Tabun, Israel

~From Tabun, Israel

~From Teshik-Tash, Uzbekistan

~Dated to 70,000 years

~The first Neanderthal discovered.  Found in Belgium in 1929

~The second Neanderthal specimen found.  Discovered at Gibralter in 1848

~Found between 1899 - 1905 by Dragutin Gorjanorvic - Kramberger at Krapina, Croatia

~Dated to 130,000 years

picture credit

~From La Chapelle-aux-Saints, France

~This specimen is diagnosed with having chronic arthritis throughout its body

~Found in 1909 at La Ferrassie, France

~Dated to 50,000 years

~From Le Moustier, France

~From Mount Circeo, Italy

~Discovered in 1856 in the Neander Valley, Germany

~Neanderthal 1 is the type specimen for Homo neanderthalensis

~From Saccopastore, Italy

~Dated to 120,000 years

~From Saccopastore, Italy

~Dated to 120,000 years

~From St Cesaire, Western France

~From level G3 at Vindija, Croatia

~Found by Zafarraya Cave, near Andalucia, Spain

~Dated to 27,000 years

~Found at the Moroccan site of Jebel Irhoud

Click here to see other European fossil hominid specimens

Click here to see other Asian fossil hominid specimens

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A. ramidus ~ A. anamensis ~ A. afarensis ~ A. africanus ~ A. gahri ~ A. bahrelghazali ~ P. boisei ~ P. aethiopicus ~ P. robustus ~ H. habilis ~ H. rudolfensis ~ H. erectus ~ H. ergaster ~ H. antecessor ~ H. heidelbergensis ~ H. neanderthalensis ~ H. sapiens

Southern Africa ~ Eastern Africa ~ North Central Africa ~ Asia ~ Europe/Northwestern Africa

Steven Heslip ~ 2001 ~ heslipst@msu.edu