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New ZealandRemember when Neanderthals were known as primitive, brutish cavemen? The depictions of Neanderthals from yesteryear, caricatures of heavy-browed people, hunched over at the shoulders and dragging clubs behind them?
Luckily, more recent discoveries have been gradually changing this perception of them. Scientists have studied their brain capacity, how they treated each other and their dead, and even how they decorated important places.
Let’s take a look at some of the more prevailing myths and how science has busted them.
Myth 1
When they were first discovered, and for many decades afterwards, Neanderthals were imagined as dull-witted creatures barely capable of surviving. But this couldn’t be further from the truth.
The reality: Neanderthals had brains at least as large as those of modern humans. While brain size alone doesn’t equal intelligence, their cognitive abilities were far more advanced than once thought.
The evidence:
Neanderthals created and used sophisticated tools, including the Levallois technique, which involved shaping stone tools with remarkable accuracy.
They controlled fire, cooked food, and used plant-based adhesives to bind tools - an early example of chemistry.
Their hunting strategies showed an ability to work as part of a team, and to problem-solve very quickly as they coordinated their efforts to take down large animals like mammoths.
Fun Fact: There is evidence that Homo sapiens may have adopted some tools originally developed by Neanderthals after interacting with them.
Myth 2
Another common misconception is that Neanderthals lacked any creativity or culture, that they existed only to hunt and survive.
The reality: Neanderthals displayed behaviours that point to a rich cultural life. They made art, buried their dead, and there is evidence that they may even have practiced rituals.
The evidence:
Neanderthals in what is now Spain painted abstract designs on stalagmites over 60,000 years ago, thousands of years before modern humans arrived in Europe.
At Shanidar Caves in Iraq, the discovery of clumps of pollen around one Neanderthal skeleton has been proposed as evidence that flowers were used in a funerary practice, hinting at a symbolic or ritualistic behaviour. *
They crafted personal ornaments from eagle talons and seashells, demonstrating a sense of aesthetics and possibly identity.
These cultural practices show that Neanderthals were far more than instinct-driven creatures; they were thoughtful and expressive.
Fun Fact: Neanderthals at the Prado Vargas cave collected fossils, possibly as part of cultural practices. It’s even possible that children collected these items, much like kids today collect interesting rocks or shells.
Myth 3
Popular media often depicts Neanderthals as hulking, hunched-over figures with exaggerated, “ugly” features.
The Reality: It’s true that Neanderthals did have distinct physical traits, such as a robust and hardy frame, slightly prominent brow ridges, and a wide nose, but they were not as drastically different from modern humans as we once thought.
The Evidence:
Reconstructions of Neanderthals based on fossil evidence and using modern forensic techniques have revealed faces that wouldn’t look out of place today. If you dressed a Neanderthal in modern clothing and saw them walking down the street, or sitting in an office, they might not stand out at all.
Their stronger builds were an adaptation to the colder climates of Europe, and allowed them to survive the Ice Age conditions they faced. Their frames were an evolutionary advantage, and not a defect.
Fun fact: Neanderthals used tree resin to make a strong glue, essentially inventing an early superglue.
Myth 4
The idea that Neanderthals were evolutionary failures has persisted for years, often framed as a cautionary tale about survival of the fittest.
The Reality: Neanderthals thrived across Europe for over 300,000 years - far longer than Homo sapiens have existed so far. Their eventual extinction wasn’t due to inferiority but likely a combination of factors, including competition with modern humans, climate change, and interbreeding.
The Evidence:
Neanderthals evolved to inhabit a wide range of environments across Europe and Asia, showcasing their ability to adapt to varying climates and ecosystems.
Recent studies suggest that small population sizes and low genetic diversity may eventually have made Neanderthals more susceptible to population shifts and environmental stresses. This new vulnerability could have contributed to their extinction.
Research indicates that new diseases, introduced by Homo sapiens could have played a part in Neanderthals extinction.
Neanderthal Legacy: Today, up to 2% of the DNA in non-African populations is Neanderthal in origin. Far from being a failure, they left a lasting genetic imprint on the human story.
Fun Fact: Evidence from bones and tools left behind by the Neanderthals shows that they were capable of taking down large creatures that outweighed them by thousands of pounds - including wooly rhinos, mammoths, and straight-tusked elephants.
Myth 5
For years, Neanderthals were thought to be a separate, isolated branch of the human family tree that vanished without a trace. But the truth is far more complex - and fascinating.
The Reality: Neanderthals and Homo sapiens interbred multiple times, leaving a lasting genetic legacy that calls into question the idea of total “extinction.”
The Evidence:
Genetic studies have confirmed that nearly all non-African people alive today carry Neanderthal DNA. These inherited genes influence a variety of traits, from skin and hair to immune system response.
The Zlatŷ Kůň individual - a Homo Sapiens woman who lived somewhere between 31,500 to 52,600 years ago - and other ancient Homo sapiens show significant Neanderthal ancestry, revealing frequent interbreeding over thousands of years.
Some researchers suggest that Neanderthals didn’t truly “disappear” but were absorbed into the growing Homo sapiens population through interbreeding, blending their traits into our own.
A Legacy, Not and End: If extinction implies a complete disappearance, then the Neanderthal story challenges that definition. Their genes live on in us, modern humans, shaping aspects of who we are today. In this sense, they didn’t vanish - they evolved with us, contributing to our shared humanity.
Fun Fact: Although we think of Neanderthals as being cave-dwellers, in Ukraine archaeologists have discovered a circular structure made from mammoth bone, with hearths inside suggesting that they built homes!
Rethinking Our Ancient Relatives
It’s time to leave behind outdated stereotypes about Neanderthals as brutish, unintelligent “cavemen.” Instead, we should celebrate them as intelligent, creative, and adaptable humans who thrived in challenging environments and contributed to our shared genetic legacy.
By debunking these myths, we honour the Neanderthals’ place in our evolutionary story and recognise that their DNA lives on in many of us today - a tangible reminder of our ancient, interconnected past.
*It’s important to note here that this has been contested, as some researchers believe that a species of burrowing bee or other animals may have left these traces after the individual was left in the cave.