Differences between Cro-Magnon and Neanderthal
It is true that the human species has evolved over the years, so some theories such as Darwin’s evolutionary theory point out that only the most capable of adapting survive in a changing environment. In this way, the different species of hominids (family of primates with the ability to walk on two feet in an upright position and endowed with intelligence and manual dexterity) that have populated the earth have been adapting to the changing environment and evolving in such a way that they can subsist.
In the same order of ideas, Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon man are two of the hominin species that once walked the earth, so it is of our interest to highlight the differences between them in this article.
Cro-Magnon
To begin with, Cro-Magnon man, also called Cro-Magnon, is an extinct hominid very similar to modern human beings. Its name comes from the caves of the same name in France, where the first fossil remains of this species were found in 1868. Basically, the Cro-Magnon man lived in caves but when he needed to move from one place to another he made temporary camps in the open air. free.
On the other hand, this man had a variable lifestyle, nomadic at times and sedentary at others according to climatic, environmental factors and food possibilities. They lived in large groups of approximately 50 individuals, who in turn lived by group hunting and gathering. It is believed that he may have lived with Neanderthal man in the early stages of the Upper Palaeolithic in Europe.
It should be noted that the Cro-Magnon is the first representative of Homo-sapiens or current man, and its appearance dates back to the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic. Regarding his physical appearance, the Cro-Magnon had a broad face, a narrow nose, a robust jaw, a prominent chin, an elongated skull and a wide forehead, with an average height of 1.85 meters.
Finally, the Cro-Magnon man had a great capacity for socialization and communication. Therefore, he adapted to climatic and environmental circumstances more quickly, making temporary shelters or moving to more suitable places.
Neanderthal
Briefly, Neanderthal man, or simply Neanderthal, is a species of hominid that inhabited Europe and parts of western Asia from 230,000 to 29,000 years ago during the Middle Paleolithic. The Neanderthals lived in organized groups, formed by about thirty members and had a great capacity to adapt to cold climates according to their physical complexion.
On the other hand, they lived by hunting and gathering, hunting large animals like mammoths and small animals with stones and sticks. Likewise, with respect to their physical characteristics, Neanderthals had a very robust skeleton, short limbs, wide chest, prominent supraorbital arches, low and sloping forehead, prominent face, jaws with a receding chin and large cranial capacity, showing an average height of 1. 70 meters.
Finally, Neanderthals lived in caves and had a slightly more nomadic lifestyle than other species, moving to different places according to weather conditions and lack of food.
As can be seen, there are important differences between the Cro-Magnon and the Neanderthal, among which we have:
| Cro-Magnon | Neanderthal |
| It inhabited Europe in the Upper Paleolithic (between 35,000 and 10,000 BC). | It inhabited Europe and Asia in the Middle Paleolithic. (between 130,000 and 33,000 BC). |
| A sedentary and nomadic lifestyle prevailed. | A nomadic lifestyle prevailed. |
| His physical features were: a broad face, a narrow nose, a strong jaw, a prominent chin, an elongated skull, and a wide forehead. | His physical features were: a very robust skeleton, short limbs, broad chest, prominent supraorbital arches, low and sloping forehead, prominent face, jaws with a receding chin, and large cranial capacity. |
| They had an average height of 1.85 meters. | They had an average height of 1.75 meters. |
