Neanderthals

Neanderthals were a subspecies of ancient humans who lived in Europe and parts of Asia around 400,000 to 40,000 years ago. They are closely related to modern humans, sharing about 99.7% of our DNA. Neanderthals were robust, had larger skulls, and were well-adapted to cold climates. They used tools, controlled fire, and may have created art. Recent research suggests they had complex social structures and cared for their injured. While they coexisted with early modern humans, they eventually went extinct, likely due to a combination of climate change, competition, and possible interbreeding with modern humans.