Professor Chris Stringer

Perhaps one of the most distinctive features is that the nose is very large and projecting, but it's part of a complex in the face where the whole middle of the face is pulled forwards and the cheekbones sweep back. So that's very distinctive. That's found in Neanderthals for hundreds of thousands of years.

And when we look at their teeth, they've got relatively large front teeth and they seem to have used their front teeth as a third hand to grip things in their mouths when they were manipulating food or other objects to maybe to work tools. They held them in their front teeth.

And when we look at their teeth, they've got relatively large front teeth and they seem to have used their front teeth as a third hand to grip things in their mouths when they were manipulating food or other objects to maybe to work tools. They held them in their front teeth.

And when we look at their teeth, they've got relatively large front teeth and they seem to have used their front teeth as a third hand to grip things in their mouths when they were manipulating food or other objects to maybe to work tools. They held them in their front teeth.

So the front teeth are quite large and they've not got much of a chin on the lower jaw and the ear bones are even distinctive. So these tiny little structures, which we can't even see buried deep in our temporal bone from CT scanning, we can look at the shape of those bones.

So the front teeth are quite large and they've not got much of a chin on the lower jaw and the ear bones are even distinctive. So these tiny little structures, which we can't even see buried deep in our temporal bone from CT scanning, we can look at the shape of those bones.

So the front teeth are quite large and they've not got much of a chin on the lower jaw and the ear bones are even distinctive. So these tiny little structures, which we can't even see buried deep in our temporal bone from CT scanning, we can look at the shape of those bones.

partly to transmit sound and also concerned with balancing the head, they are different in shape from Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. And the differences between us and Neanderthals in those ear bone shapes is as great or even greater than we find between, let's say, gorillas and chimpanzees. So that's really quite a distinctive feature, which is laid down before birth.

partly to transmit sound and also concerned with balancing the head, they are different in shape from Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. And the differences between us and Neanderthals in those ear bone shapes is as great or even greater than we find between, let's say, gorillas and chimpanzees. So that's really quite a distinctive feature, which is laid down before birth.

partly to transmit sound and also concerned with balancing the head, they are different in shape from Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. And the differences between us and Neanderthals in those ear bone shapes is as great or even greater than we find between, let's say, gorillas and chimpanzees. So that's really quite a distinctive feature, which is laid down before birth.

So it's got to be pretty fundamental genetically.

So it's got to be pretty fundamental genetically.

So it's got to be pretty fundamental genetically.

Yes, that's right. So we assume that Homo sapiens was bringing its own technology and using perhaps a wider range of resources. Neanderthals did make use of quite difficult to work material like bone and antler and ivory. The Neanderthals did use those materials, but to a lesser extent than Homo sapiens did. So we get a wider range of technology.

Yes, that's right. So we assume that Homo sapiens was bringing its own technology and using perhaps a wider range of resources. Neanderthals did make use of quite difficult to work material like bone and antler and ivory. The Neanderthals did use those materials, but to a lesser extent than Homo sapiens did. So we get a wider range of technology.

Yes, that's right. So we assume that Homo sapiens was bringing its own technology and using perhaps a wider range of resources. Neanderthals did make use of quite difficult to work material like bone and antler and ivory. The Neanderthals did use those materials, but to a lesser extent than Homo sapiens did. So we get a wider range of technology.

Of course, again, all the wood technology that they would have had has disappeared. So we can't tell how different they were there. But it also seems that in some cases, Homo sapiens are even associated with bows and arrows. And that, of course, is really complex technology where you've got to have careful selection of the wood to make the bow.

Of course, again, all the wood technology that they would have had has disappeared. So we can't tell how different they were there. But it also seems that in some cases, Homo sapiens are even associated with bows and arrows. And that, of course, is really complex technology where you've got to have careful selection of the wood to make the bow.

Of course, again, all the wood technology that they would have had has disappeared. So we can't tell how different they were there. But it also seems that in some cases, Homo sapiens are even associated with bows and arrows. And that, of course, is really complex technology where you've got to have careful selection of the wood to make the bow.

You've got to be able to make the bow and the right sort of strength and size. You've also got to make your arrow shafts in maybe the same wood or a different wood. You've got to make your string for the bow out of animal or plant tissue. And that's a complex task. And you've got to mount, of course, quite a light projectile head on the end of the arrow to make it effective.