Pages: 25-98

The work is devoted to the Neanderthals — our closest relatives, who seem to have been as human as modern people are. The author describes their anatomy, genetics, evolutionary history and various aspects of their culture. He stresses the important role the Neanderthals played in the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition. Special consideration is given to their mental capability, their relations and possible interactions with anatomically modern humans, as well as the causes of their disappearance from the world.

Keywords: Neanderthals, anatomy, genetics, evolutionary history, culture, intelligence, extinction

Information about author: 

Leonid Vishnyatsky (St.-Petersburg, Russia). Doctor of historical sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture, Russian Academy of Sciences.
E-mail: [email protected]