175,000 Year old evidence that the first inhabitants of Europe were highly underestimated. The best forensic artist reconstruct their faces from the actual skulls with staggering result. Our cousins were beautiful. If you do not have any African genes, science says you are related to these folks from the beginning.The most deeply rooted misconception, still widespread in the scientific world, is that Neanderthal became extinct, without leaving any contribution to modern humans. Morphological comparison between Neanderthals and modern Europeans immediately reveals striking similarities in unique physical traits not found among Africans (see below). The sequencing of the Neanderthal genome, completed in 2010, has definitely proven that, not only Europeans, but all non-African people today inherited a few percents of Neanderthalian DNA.

A deeper view of this subject is contained in my follow up effort, ELP once again provides the music and science provides the facts. 'Neanderthals-3%' on Airbaha, YouTube channel.    • NEANDERTHAL- 3%  
Were Neanderthals less evolved than Homo sapiens?
One first misconception is that all Neanderthals were the same. The proto-Neanderthals first appeared some 350,000 years ago, at a time when our Homo sapiens ancestors were still fairly primitive Homo erectus, with a brain size of 900 to 1100 cc (against 1,200 to 1,400 cc for modern humans).

Neanderthal roamed Europe until 30,000 to 24,000 years ago, when its presence progressively disappears from the archeological record. Naturally, there was plenty of time for evolution in over 300,000 years, and many sub-species developed (see Fabre 2009). It is likely that there was a greater genetic distance between the most different Neanderthals subspecies than between modern human ethnic groups.

When the Homo sapiens sapiens (also known as anatomically modern humans) arrived in Europe about 40,000 years ago, Neanderthal was at its most advanced level of evolution. Its cranium, with a volume ranging from 1200 to 1700 cc, was in fact larger than that of Cro-Magnons (Paleolithic European Homo sapiens), and also 10% greater than that of modern humans in average. If brain size is any indication, Neanderthals could have been cleverer than us. But that's not the whole story. Neanderthal's skull had a lower vaulted prefrontal cortex than most modern humans, and it has been speculated that they would have been worse at decision making and moderating social behaviour. On the other hand, Neanderthals possessed a bigger occipital lobe, meaning that their visual abilities (including the distinction of details and colours) were certainly better than that of modern humans.

Scientists have long looked down on Neanderthals, claiming that it wasn't evolved enough to speak or to use tools like the Homo sapiens. This has since been proven wrong by genetics. The very reputable Nature journal has published that Neanderthals were genetically equipped for language. Another study (D'Anastasio 2013) confirmed that Neanderthals could talk, based on the horseshoe-shaped structure in their neck.

Numerous studies have shown that Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons used similar tools, and overall had the same technology and lifestyle. Both buried their deads, with similar ornaments, demonstrating the same level of sentiments and care. Actually Neanderthals were the first hominids to practise interment, long before Homo sapiens existed. The oldest evidence of intentional Neanderthal burial dates back to 300,000 years before present at the Atapuerca Cave in Spain. Some 15 Neanderthal bodies found in Pontnewydd Cave in Wales show deliberate disposal of the dead some 225,000 years ago. Another famous example is the Krapina Cave in Croatia, where over 70 Neanderthals were found ceremonially buried with the help of tools some 130,000 years ago (source). The earliest evidence of religion also comes from Neanderthals, in the form of totemism or animal worship, such as bear cult.

A lot of people imagine Neanderthals as hunters whose diet was dominated by meat from big game. But they actually enjoyed a diversified diet than that, eating mussels and other shellfish (which were warmed up to open their shells), fish, grass seeds like wheat and barley (which were cooked), legumes, nuts, fruits, and even bitter-tasting medicinal plants such as chamomile and yarrow.

Stanley Finger explains in his book Origins of Neuroscience that a 70,000-year old Neanderthal skull from the Shanidar Cave in Iraq showed evidence of healed skull wounds. So it is possible that Neanderthals had some knowledge of basic medicine before Homo sapiens even reached Europe.

João Zilhão et al. (2010) reported finding sculpted shells painted by Neanderthals 50,000 years ago in Iberia. This was the first evidence that Neanderthals used jewelry, but also that they could manufacture paint. The discoverers think that Neanderthals would also have painted their bodies.