Neanderthal connection

Introduction

Neanderthals are named after one of the first sites where their fossils were discovered in the mid-19th century in the Neander Valley, at Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany.  Neanderthals are an extinct species or subspecies of human who evolved within the genus Homo. Neanderthals lived throughout Eurasia for approximately 450,000 years and they seemed to have disappeared from the archaeological record around 40,000 years ago.

DNA studies suggest that anatomically modern human racial groups outside of Africa descend from a population of Homo sapiens migrating out of Africa roughly 70,000 years ago. The migrating Homo Sapien populations interbred with local species of Neanderthals. Their hybrid children bore genes from both lineages, but eventually modern human genes diluted Neanderthal genes and speed up evolution by creating separate racial groups within the Homo Sapien populations.

The strongest traces of Neanderthal DNA within the Homo Sapien populations of today are among the Eurasian populations. The Homo Sapiens who have descended from Europe are among the groups of people with the highest percentage of Neanderthal DNA. Physically speaking the European racial group have inherited majority of their looks from the Neanderthal.

Looks inherited by Neanderthals by European descendants include: 

• elongated head shape

• broad, projecting nose

• little protruding chin

• rosy cheeks

• fair skin and freckles

• thicker, straightened hair

• red and blond hair

• larger Eyes