Neanderthals were far more sophisticated than history gave them credit for. This documentary traces the astonishing two-million-year journey of human evolution, from the first stone tools crafted in Tanzania's Olduvai Gorge to the rise of the first cities in Mesopotamia, revealing how Neanderthals fit into this story in ways that challenge everything we thought we knew. Genetically just 0.2 percent removed from modern humans, Neanderthals mastered fire, built shelters, hunted with expertly engineered spears, and buried their dead in what may be the earliest evidence of religious belief in human history. The discovery of a hyoid bone in a Neanderthal skull in Israel suggests they possessed the anatomical foundation for speech, while burial sites in France reveal ritual practices once thought impossible for a species long dismissed as primitive. From the 300,000-year-old spears unearthed in Schöningen, Germany, to the cave art and sculptures left behind by early Homo sapiens, this film uncovers the tools, inventions, and behaviors that separate humans from every other species on Earth. It explores how the mastery of fire transformed diet and brain size, how language and cooperation made large-scale hunting possible, and how the Neolithic Revolution eventually gave rise to farming, permanent settlements, and civilization itself. This is the story of how humanity, and its closest evolutionary relative, learned to think, speak, create, and survive. More sources and informations: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/who-were-the-neanderthals.html ---- The universe is vast, much like our imagination. In "space and science", we show you various documentaries and highlights from outer space. No matter if stars or planets, meteoroids or black holes, relax and enjoy our content! :) ---- Other channels you might be interested in: criminals and crimefighters: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYuXyzwA_w4-c1FJrqOnR0A hazards and catastrophes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5WE_bClugxSVG1ENir8qzg