The Neanderthals Rediscovered

There is a little Neanderthal in all of us. Although they have been extinct for 40,000 years, our genetic inheritance means that they are not entirely gone. Since the publication of the first Neanderthal genome in 2010, our understanding of the Neanderthals - and our connection to them - has changed dramatically. Once stereotyped as simple and brutish, recent discoveries by archaeologists and geneticists have painted a different picture of Neanderthals, and one more familiar to us: they buried their dead, cared for the sick, and even painted cave walls. We can now delve into their DNA to trace their evolution in Europe and movements across Asia, and piece together how they lived and died in amazing detail.

This fully updated edition presents cutting-edge research on our fascinating hominin relatives: their interbreeding with humans and other species including the recently discovered Denisovans, their social behaviours such as smiling to indicate friendliness, and the genes they have passed down to us that could be affecting our health. By confronting our differences and similarities to the Neanderthals, this book addresses the biggest question of all: what it means to be human.

“[Written] with confidence and verve . . . strikes an excellent balance between broad popular appeal and satisfyingly rich content.-- "Society for American Archaeology"”

'A beautifully synthesized portrait of a powerful people' - Nature
'[A] compelling and engaging account … Prepare to have your prejudices shattered and your understanding of humanity challenged' - Clive Gamble, University of Southampton
'Excellent and absorbing' - Current World Archaeology

Dimitra Papagianni is a Palaeolithic and stone tool specialist, who has taught at Cambridge and Oxford. Michael A. Morse is a historian of science with a specialty in the history of British archaeology, and the author of How the Celts Came to Britain.

Winner of the Society for American Archaeology Book Award, The Neanderthals Rediscovered is a fascinating study of the Neanderthals, informed by the latest scientific developments and discoveries, now available as an updated paperback. The Neanderthals' story has been transformed thanks to new discoveries and paradigm-shattering scientific innovations. We can now trace their evolution in Europe and spread across Asia, study their DNA, and piece together how they lived and died. Far from the old stereotypes, Neanderthals' behavior was surprisingly modern: they buried their dead, cared for their sick, hunted large animals, used red pigment, and spoke. If Neanderthals were so advanced, why did they die out and Homo sapiens survive? By looking at the full Neanderthal story, we can better address the biggest mystery of all: what it means to be human.

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