[From “You’re dead to me” BBC podcast]

Ironically Neander (valley in Germany where they were first discovered) means new man…

Restricted to Eurasia, and not clear why it took Homo sapiens so long to move in. From 400 000 years ago, lived in parallel for a long time, with frequent intermingling – and since definition of species is usually inability to breed outside, not really so different from Homo sapiens. 2% of our DNA from them, and across all populations probably 40% of Neanderthal DNA still extant. So not exactly extinct 40 000 years ago. 

Much closer to us than chimps yet chimps play, clown, beat out rhythms, communicate.  Language? Noises plus gestures? Brain development may follow language rather than enable…

Strong limbed, probably built for explosive power in forest, not ranging travel across plains. Different chest shape. 

Cannibalism (as can humans be); but equally whole bodies preserved, which isn’t accidental. 

Used fire. Particular about materials. Evidence of technology developing. Painted shell found that is purely decorative so aesthetics if not art. 

Bruniquel cave is 300m inside a mountain. Circles constructed out of broken stalactites – clearly not something with a practical use.

But ultimately lost out because didn’t have such wide ranging networks?