Neandertals

Neandertals have long been considered the epitome of the dumb caveman. Previous ideas emphasized not only their physical, but also their perceived behavioral and intellectual, inferiority compared to modern humans. Among the differences emphasized were those relating to language, symbolic behavior, technology, and morphology. We will examine the most recent archaeological and paleontological information on these early humans and paint a more accurate picture of them based on current knowledge.

Fred H. Smith is a Distinguished Professor of Anthropology and Biology Emeritus at Illinois State University. A paleoanthropologist, he has studied Neandertals since 1970 and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a past president of the American Association of Biological Anthropologists.

Host or Publisher RENESAN Institute for Lifelong Learning