Who Were the Neanderthals?

Neanderthals are commonly viewed as a separate, primitive species of human. However, who, in truth, were the Neanderthals?

The first remains of what were later identified as Neanderthals were found in 1856 in the Neander Valley, Germany. Initially, some scientists, including the evolutionist Thomas Huxley, argued that they were humans. Over time, however, the prevailing view became that Neanderthals were a more primitive, less-developed branch of humanity. To date, over 400 Neanderthal remains have been discovered.¹

There is ongoing debate among modern scientists regarding the classification of Neanderthals. Some classify them as a separate species, Homo neanderthalensis, while others view them as a subspecies of Homo sapiens, specifically Homo sapiens neanderthalensis, alongside contemporary humans, Homo sapiens sapiens. Regardless of the classification, most evolutionary scientists agree that Neanderthals were distinct from us.² They argue that, even if Neanderthals were not a separate species, they must have been at least a subspecies. The question remains: what is the truth?

Genetic Evidence

A commonly referenced argument for distinguishing Neanderthals as a separate species is the 0.123% difference in their mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) compared to that of modern humans. However, this reasoning presents two issues. First, no clear boundary has been established by scientists regarding the extent of mtDNA differences that would indicate two distinct species. Dr. Maryellen Ruvolo from Harvard University also observed that the genetic variation between modern humans and Neanderthals falls within the range typically seen in other primates. As such, the differences in mtDNA do not serve as definitive evidence that Neanderthals were a separate species from modern humans.³

Secondly, research into human DNA has shown that it contains traces of Neanderthal genetic material. In fact, between 1% and 4% of the DNA of people living in Eurasia originates from Neanderthals.⁴ How can this be the case if Neanderthals were a separate species? A species is generally defined as a group of organisms capable of producing fertile offspring. Since Neanderthal genes are present in modern human DNA, it suggests that Neanderthals and modern humans must have interbred, resulting in offspring capable of reproduction. This implies that both groups fall within the same species definition.

Species or Phenotype?

What does this suggest? As previously noted, Thomas Huxley argued that we are not considering two separate Homo species, but rather a continuum within a single species, Homo sapiens. This view is gaining broader support among scientists, particularly given that Neanderthals and modern humans lived alongside one another and were even buried in the same graves.⁶

It appears that a modern human, as we would define it today, would not have perceived someone we now call a Neanderthal as belonging to a separate species. Some individuals displayed more ‘Neanderthal’ traits, others appeared more ‘modern,’ while still others exhibited characteristics that placed them somewhere in between, on a spectrum between the two extremes. This is evident in the remains of individuals who were initially hastily classified as Neanderthals.⁷

In other words, the differences between them were not species-based, but merely phenotypic. They were humans, like us, though with a somewhat different appearance. As a result, the evolutionary divide between modern humans (Homo sapiens) and Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) is essentially a construct.

Conclusion

A nearly anecdotal depiction of who the Neanderthals were can be seen in a curious example. In the Neanderthal Museum in Mettmann, Germany, near the location where the first Neanderthal remains were discovered, there is a wax figure of a Neanderthal. The figure would not be particularly noteworthy were it not for the fact that the museum curator has dressed it in a business suit.⁸ Although the figure’s phenotypic features may appear somewhat unusual for a contemporary white person, if we encountered him on the street in such attire, we would likely perceive him as an ordinary individual. This illustrates that Neanderthals were, in fact, humans.

By the way, we recommend reading the articles:

• Primitive Religion – Animism or Monotheism?
• Where Did the Waters of the Flood Go?
• Did God Create Parasites?
• Phenotypic Plasticity – A Rapid Form of Evolution?
• Consciousness – A Mystery for Science, A Gift for Humanity
• Bear Dogs – Gone Forever?
• Chinese Pictograms and the Story of Genesis

Footnotes

1. See Palomar College, available at: https://www2.palomar.edu/anthro/homo2/mod_homo_2.htm
2. Parker, G., ‘Human Beings’, in Creation: Facts of Life, Answers in Genesis, March 28, 2016, available at: https://answersingenesis.org/human-evolution/ape-man/human-beings-fossil-evidence/
3. Lubenov, M., ‘The Neanderthals: Our Worthy Ancestors’, Answers in Genesis, November 29, 2006, available at: https://answersingenesis.org/human-evolution/neanderthal/the-neandertals-our-worthy-ancestors/
4. See Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, available at: https://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/genetics/ancient-dna-and-neanderthals/interbreeding
5. Lubenov, M., ‘The Neanderthals: Our Worthy Ancestors, Part II’, Answers in Genesis, April 11, 2007, available at: https://answersingenesis.org/human-evolution/neanderthal/the-neandertals-our-worthy-ancestors-part-ii/
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. See The Wall Street Journal, available at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/want-a-selfie-with-a-neanderthal-visit-europes-cave-man-museums-1436918342

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Evolution of Thinking - Sebastian S.

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