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 Neanderta! 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/Archaie/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”.
Progressive Neandertal:
Distribution : Asia:
- Tabun (Mt.Carmel, Israel 1931-32)
- Skhul (Mt.Carmel,Israel)
Characteristics of Progressive Neandertals:
- Skeletons of progressive Neandertals were recovered from two places in Mount Carmel,Palestine.
- The cranial capacity was 1400 CC
- The skull was longer
- Vault of the skull was high
- Higher cephalic index.
- Forehead was less receeding
- Occipital region was slightly projecting.
- Supra orbital ridge was not heavy.
- Orbits were more rounded.
- Maxilla was not projected like muzzle like fashion.
- The nose was less broad.
- The nostrils were less widely separated.
- Lower jaw was slightly larger.
- Had a distinct chin.
- Skull was less rough.
- Form of brain was advanced.
- Teeth was not always large.
- Ramus varied in length.
- Femur had linea aspera.
- Legs were long and completely adapted for erect posture.