Neanderthals

Neanderthal tooth from Siberian cave shows signs of earliest-known invasive dental surgery - study

The molar showed that the Neanderthal who underwent the dental procedure was an adult, though the researchers do not know the individual's gender.

Views from five different angles of a molar of an adult Neanderthal individual, discovered at Chagyrskaya Cave in the Siberia region of Russia and dating to about 59,000 years ago, seen in this undated image released on May 13, 2026.
 Neanderthal life. Illustration.

Extremely painful: Evidence suggests Neanderthals performed root canals 59,000 years ago

 Neanderthal communities in prehistoric Europe. How were they linked? (Illustrative)

Central-Eastern Europe's oldest Neanderthal group identified by DNA taken from teeth - study

 World's oldest Neanderthal fingerprint found on 43,000-year-old pebble in Spain. Illustration.

Remains from Israel’s North show Neanderthal children grew faster than modern humans - study


Neanderthal diversity: Iberian Neanderthals handled the dead with cave deposits, not graves

Archaeological study reveals systematic accumulations of Neanderthal remains in Iberian caves, indicating intentional mortuary practices distinct from burial traditions documented in other regions.

Maltravieso Cave replica with Neanderthals four fingers hand-prints.

Mystery at Petralona Cave: 286,000-year-old skull near Thessaloniki upends the human family tree

Buried for hundreds of thousands of years, the Petralona cranium finally reveals its ancient secret.

The Petralona skull.

Earliest proof of Neanderthals, Homo sapiens interbreeding discovered by Israeli archaeologists

Discovered approximately 90 years ago, the fossil was reanalyzed using advanced micro-CT scanning and 3D modeling.

The skull of the child from Israel's Skhul Cave, showing the typical cranial curvature of Homo sapiens.

Neanderthals ate maggots from rotting meat, new research finds

Melanie Beasley, a researcher at Purdue University, stated, "Large quantities of larvae were available, they are easy to collect, and they are rich in nutrients."

Neanderthals ate maggots from rotting meat, new research finds. Illustration.

Neanderthal recipes: Study reveals how Neanderthals living in Northern Israel butchered their meat

These differences in butchery practices cannot be explained by tool type, skill, or available resources, indicating that cultural practices might be responsible.

 Neanderthal life. Illustration.

Did Neanderthals have 'family recipes'? Study suggests butchery practices in ancient groups

Their meticulous examination of cut-marks on the remains of animal prey revealed patterns that cannot be explained by differences in skill, resources, or available tools at each site.

 The entrance of Kebara cave.

Neanderthals' 125,000-year-old 'grease factory' discovered at Neumark-Nord in Germany

The evidence constitutes the earliest clear case of intensive grease-rendering yet documented for the Paleolithic.

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World's oldest Neanderthal fingerprint found on 43,000-year-old pebble in Spain

Researchers suggest the pebble may represent one of the earliest human facial symbolizations in prehistory.

 World's oldest Neanderthal fingerprint found on 43,000-year-old pebble in Spain. Illustration.

Archaeologists date 80,000-year-old Neanderthal bone spearhead found in North Caucasus cave

This finding disproves the myth of Neanderthals' primitiveness: they planned complex composite tools.

 Archaeologists date 80,000-year-old Neanderthal bone spearhead found in North Caucasus cave.

Earliest symbolic burial practices found in Tinshemet Cave, Israel

Evidence suggests Neanderthals and Homo sapiens shared burial customs and symbolic behaviors.

 Earliest symbolic burial practices found in Tinshemet Cave, Israel.