Neanderthal

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Homo neanderthalensis

What was the first human species?

Neanderthal sites of the Late Pleistocene

Neanderthal remains at Kebara, Israel

Mousterian industry

Neanderthal: genetic studies

Neanderthal toe bone

Neanderthal: bone fragments

For Students

Neanderthal summary

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Skull of Homo heidelbergensis (fossils, hominids).

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Neanderthal: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Jun 14, 2025

News •

Oldest human DNA ever found comes from a still-unknown relative from Neanderthal times • June 12, 2025, 6:33 AM ET (Earth.com)

A 43,000-year-old Neandertal fingerprint has been found in Spain • June 10, 2025, 6:33 AM ET (Science News)

Archaeologists found a strange red mark on rock. Forensic police helped them unravel who made it • May 30, 2025, 8:21 AM ET (CNN)

With the touch of a finger, a Neanderthal may have made art • May 28, 2025, 3:36 AM ET (NBC)

Ancient human fingerprint suggests Neanderthals made art • May 27, 2025, 9:13 AM ET (BBC)

Facts

Also Known As	Homo neanderthalensis • Homo sapiens neanderthalensis • Neandertal

Photos and Videos

Homo neanderthalensis

Neanderthal sites of the Late Pleistocene

Neanderthal remains at Kebara, Israel

Mousterian industry

Neanderthal: genetic studies

Neanderthal toe bone

Neanderthal: bone fragments

Possible appearance of a Neanderthal man. The head and shoulders of a complete statue are shown.

What was the first human species?

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Topics

Shanidar remains Fontéchevade skulls Amud remains Kebara 2 La Ferrassie skeletons Gibraltar remains Krapina remains Ehringsdorf remains Saccopastore skulls human evolution Australopithecus Homo erectus Homo habilis Australopithecus sediba Cro-Magnon Homo floresiensis Denisovan Homo heidelbergensis Boskop skull Homo naledi

Key People

Svante Pääbo

Svante Pääbo

Swedish evolutionary geneticist

Aleš Hrdlička

American anthropologist

Marcellin Boule

Marcellin Boule

French geologist

Quiz

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Animal Group Names

List

Skull of Homo heidelbergensis (fossils, hominids).

Human Ancestors