Who were the Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons?
Many scientists believe that Homo erectus eventually
developed into humans, or Homo sapiens.
Scientists once thought that Neanderthals were ancestors of
modern humans but no longer do. These hominids appeared
200,000 years ago. They lived in caves or built shelters of
wood or animal skins. At one time, they were thought to be
rough and wild people. Now scientists think that they may
have held religious beliefs. These people found ways to
survive the freezing cold of the Ice Age. About 30,000 years
ago, though, the Neanderthals strangely disappeared.
About 10,000 years before these people vanished, the Cro-
Magnons appeared. Their bodies were just like those of
modern people. Scientists think that these people worked
with one another in planning large-scale hunts of animals.
They may have also had more skill at speaking than did the
Neanderthals. Because they had these skills, the Cro-
Magnons were better at finding food. That may explain why
Cro-Magnons survived and Neanderthals did not.
Scientists are continuing to work on many sites in Africa.
New discoveries continually add to what we know about
human origins.
1. Australopithecines
2. Homo habilis
Matching: match the hominid species with the associated physical trait and achievement
Hominid Species
Physical Trait and Achievement
Built shelters of wood and skin
Used Complex language
3. Homo erectus
4. Neanderthals
5. Cro-Magnons
Vocabulary
Homo sapiens:
—
Q: How is the species Homo
sapiens different from earlier
hominids?
Developed religious beliefs.
-First to use fire
First to use spoken language!
First to walk upright
First toolmaker
Physically identical to us!
First to have opposable thumb
Planned complicated hunts
First to use technology