1

• By the time humans appeared, our closest living relatives were probably the hominids known as “Neandertals” (or, “Neanderthals”).

• When Homo sapiens groups arrived in western Asia and Europe, Neandertals were already there. By 100,000 years ago Neandertals were living from Spain to Inner Eurasia.

• They had a long record of living successfully in both warm and cold environments. But they disappeared from the record about 30,000 years ago.

Were other surviving hominids changing in the

same way as Homo sapiens?

2

Approximate geographical range of Neandertals, 100,000-28,000 years ago

Approximate geographical range of Homo sapiens by 28,000 years ago

Did Homo sapiens meet Neandertals?

3

Would they have:• Learned from each other?• Fought? • Traded?• Eaten each other?• Mated?

What do you think might have happened when Homo sapiens met

Neandertals?

4

Migrations of Homo sapiens

Possible coastal routes of human migration

Possible landward routes of human migration

Migrations in Oceania

Human Origins200,000-250,000

years ago

Southwest Asia100,000 years ago

Europe40,000 years ago

Siberia40,000 years ago

Australiaas many as 60,000

years ago

North America12,000-30,000

years ago

Oceania1600 B.C.E.-500 C.E.

Chile12,000-13 ,000

years ago

The Stone Age

Paleolithic Neolithic

Old Stone Age New Stone Age

2.5 Million Years Ago – 12,000 Years Ago

12,000 Years Ago – 6,000 Years Ago

Hunting and Gathering Farming

Found or Sharpened Stones for Hunting

Used Stones and other Tools for Farming