#174 Forbes Neanderthal Female
Neanderthal Skull
Homo neanderthalensis - Replica
Age: 40,000-400,000 years old
Location: Europe and Western Asia
Period: Middle to Late Pleistocene
This replica represents our closest extinct relatives, who shared the European landscape with early modern humans for thousands of years before disappearing around 40,000 years ago.
Comparing Two Human Species
Neanderthal Features (H. neanderthalensis)
- Prominent brow ridge - Continuous bone shelf above the eyes
- Elongated skull - Long and low profile from front to back
- Large nasal cavity - Adapted for cold, dry Ice Age climates
- Robust bone structure - Heavy, thick bones for strength
- Projecting mid-face - Forward-jutting facial features
Early Modern Human Features (H. sapiens)
- Reduced brow ridge - Smooth, high forehead
- Rounded skull - Tall, globular cranium shape
- Smaller nasal opening - Less pronounced nasal features
- Gracile build - Lighter, more slender bone structure
- Flatter face - Less facial projection
Shared Abilities
Despite their differences, both species were intelligent toolmakers who controlled fire, created art, and buried their dead. Recent DNA studies show that Neanderthals and early modern humans interbred, and most people today carry 1-4% Neanderthal DNA.
The Final Chapter
Neanderthals thrived for over 300,000 years but gradually disappeared as modern humans expanded into Europe. Whether through competition, climate change, or absorption through interbreeding, their story ended around 40,000 years ago—but their legacy lives on in our genes.