Professor Chris Stringer

Yeah, so, well, you really need an archaeologist to answer that one properly. But from my point of view, yeah, we know that the Neanderthals were capable technologically.

They were more capable than probably, I would have said 20 years ago, I would have said that there was quite a big behavioral gulf between us and the Neanderthals, that we were making all these complex tools and making art and so on. And the Neanderthals largely weren't doing that.

They were more capable than probably, I would have said 20 years ago, I would have said that there was quite a big behavioral gulf between us and the Neanderthals, that we were making all these complex tools and making art and so on. And the Neanderthals largely weren't doing that.

They were more capable than probably, I would have said 20 years ago, I would have said that there was quite a big behavioral gulf between us and the Neanderthals, that we were making all these complex tools and making art and so on. And the Neanderthals largely weren't doing that.

What we've learned in the last 20 years is Neanderthals were doing a lot of the things that we used to think were probably unique to Homo sapiens. So this behavioral gap has considerably narrowed. Some people think it's disappeared completely. I don't go that far, but they were very capable technologically.

What we've learned in the last 20 years is Neanderthals were doing a lot of the things that we used to think were probably unique to Homo sapiens. So this behavioral gap has considerably narrowed. Some people think it's disappeared completely. I don't go that far, but they were very capable technologically.

What we've learned in the last 20 years is Neanderthals were doing a lot of the things that we used to think were probably unique to Homo sapiens. So this behavioral gap has considerably narrowed. Some people think it's disappeared completely. I don't go that far, but they were very capable technologically.

So, yes, they were largely making stone tools, of course, was their main way of making stone.

So, yes, they were largely making stone tools, of course, was their main way of making stone.

So, yes, they were largely making stone tools, of course, was their main way of making stone.

things for food processing and weapons but of course it wasn't the only material and we've got to remember that wood would have been very important for them and unfortunately in most cases the evidence of all that wood technology has disappeared there are a few rare examples where we find wooden artifacts but that must also have been important for them so for example we know that they were making wooden spears

things for food processing and weapons but of course it wasn't the only material and we've got to remember that wood would have been very important for them and unfortunately in most cases the evidence of all that wood technology has disappeared there are a few rare examples where we find wooden artifacts but that must also have been important for them so for example we know that they were making wooden spears

things for food processing and weapons but of course it wasn't the only material and we've got to remember that wood would have been very important for them and unfortunately in most cases the evidence of all that wood technology has disappeared there are a few rare examples where we find wooden artifacts but that must also have been important for them so for example we know that they were making wooden spears

And we know that some of their stone points must have been mounted on handles as spears, either throwing spears or for thrusting.

And we know that some of their stone points must have been mounted on handles as spears, either throwing spears or for thrusting.

And we know that some of their stone points must have been mounted on handles as spears, either throwing spears or for thrusting.

Yes, that's right. And some of these may just have been simply pushed into a wooden shaft. But in other cases, it looks like they were even able to make resins, quite complex technology to treat tree material, tree resins and sap and so on.

Yes, that's right. And some of these may just have been simply pushed into a wooden shaft. But in other cases, it looks like they were even able to make resins, quite complex technology to treat tree material, tree resins and sap and so on.

Yes, that's right. And some of these may just have been simply pushed into a wooden shaft. But in other cases, it looks like they were even able to make resins, quite complex technology to treat tree material, tree resins and sap and so on.

treat these with heat to make them into a kind of glue which enables you to fix the head on to the shaft so they were capable of that they certainly in many situations were capable of making fire it seems it will and that would have been very important for their survival And even art, there's evidence now that Neanderthals were marking cave walls.