Neanderthals were a distinct branch of the human family tree, classified as Homo neanderthalensis, closely related to modern humans (Homo sapiens). They shared a common ancestor with us, likely Homo heidelbergensis, and diverged around 600,000 years ago. Neanderthals were not just primitive "cavemen" but a sophisticated species that thrived in diverse environments across Europe and western Asia, developing unique cultures and survival strategies. Their extinction, likely due to a combination of climate change, competition with Homo sapiens, and reduced genetic diversity, marked the end of their independent lineage, though their genes persist in many of us today.
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