Human evolution is the origin and evolution of Homo sapiens as a species that can be distinguished from other hominids, great apes, and mammals. Neanderthals are a unique species as they can be either classified as a subspecies of Homo sapiens as Homo sapiens neanderthalensis, or can be classified as a distinct and separate species as Homo neanderthalensis. Though Neanderthals are presently considered an extinct species, evidence indicates that H. sapiens and Neanderthals, at one point, mated with each other.

It is believed that Neanderthals inhabited Europe and parts of western and central Asia as far back as 230,000 to 300,000 years ago. Evidence that Neanderthals and H. sapiens coexisted was discovered in France and Israel. Further investigation and analysis of fossils found in these areas indicate that Neanderthals, as well as H. sapiens, were skilled hunters, used fire, cared for their sick and injured, and possibly communicated through a...
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