The Neanderthal man lived in Europe, North Africa, the Near East and parts of Asia during the period form about 1,00,000 to 35,000 years ago. The Neandertal stage is a stage intermediate between the stages of Homo-erectus and modern man.
Geographical distribution:
Neandertal man was discovered in 1848 from Rock of Gibraltar but it went unnoticed. In 1856 Neandertal Skeleton was again discovered from Neandertal Valley in Dusseldorf, Germany. In its true sense, the term Neandertal is restricted for the people of fourth glaciation living in Europe, Near East and Central Asia.
Judging from the anatomical features of Neandertals, Ernest. A. Hooton divided them into two types: Classical and Progressive. The fossils collected from the Western Europe, a few from Africa and Asia represent the classical forms, while those obtained from some parts of Europe and Asia represent the Progressive forms.
La-Chappelle-aux-Saints, La-Mousteir, La Quina, La Ferrassie obtained in France are some of the members of classical group while the progressive type is represented by Tabun and Skheeh obtained from Israel.
The classical Neandertals are also called Conservative/Archaic/Later/Old/ Mousterian . They are also called as Homo Neandertalensis or Homo Sapiens Neandertalensis .The progressive Neandertals are also known as Earlier/PreMousterian/Warm/Generalized Neandertals.
Although many palaeo-anthropologists still use this dichotomy, they merge the classical and progressive into one category namely “Early man”/'”Early Humans”.
Classical Neandertals
(i) Europe:
- La-Chappel-aux- Saints (France,1908)
- La Ferrassie (France, 1909-1921)
- La Mousterian (France,1908-1909)
- Spy Cave (Belgium, 1886)
- Engis Cave (Belgium,1886)
- La Quina (France,1908-1921)
- Neander Valley,(Dusseldorf, Germany)
- Monte Circeo (Italy)
- Forbes Quarry (Gibraltar, 1848)
- Devil’s Tower (Gibraltar,1926)
(ii) Africa:
- (a) Hava Fteoh Cave (Libya)
- (b) Tebal Irhond (Casablana, Morocco)
(iii) Asia:
- (a) Shanidar (Iraq)
- (b) Teschik Tasch (Uzbekistan, Russia)
- (c) Dara-l-kur (Afghanistan)
Characteristics of Classical Neandertals:
- It was discovered in 1908 in a cave in Correnze, France.
- The age of the fossil has been estimated to be upper Pleistocene and the culture is Mousterian.
- The cranial capacity is 1600 CC
- Maximum length of the skull was 208 mm and breadth was 155 mm.
- Cephalic index was 74.5.
- The skull was large
- Forehead was receeding
- Occipital region was protruding.
- The Supra orbital ridge was heavy, rounded and continuous.
- Orbits had greater transverse diameter than the vertical diameter.
- Upper jaw projected in a muzzle-like fashion.
- The nose was broad.
- Lower jaw was large and strong.
- Chin was very much reduced.
- Ascending ramii was larger and broad.
- Whole surface of the skull was rough.
- Teeth was always large
- Femur lacked linea aspera.
- Legs were short
- Posture was imperfect.