Palaeontology

If Neanderthals walked among us, would we even be able to spot them?

By T.K. Randall
June 30, 2025 ·  38 comments

An AI-generated impression of a Neanderthal in a modern setting. Image Credit: Dall-E 3 Prehistoric human species such as Neanderthals have long been depicted in popular culture as unintelligent 'cave men' with more in common with apes than with modern humans.

In reality, however, there was likely very little to distinguish us from them.

This begs the question - if a Neanderthal wore modern clothes, had a modern hair cut and walked down the street among a crowd of people - would you even know that there was anything amiss ?

According to some scientists, the answer may not be all that clear cut.

While they certainly wouldn't look completely out of place, their physical build and characteristics would still make them stand out as 'different'.

They may also struggle to keep up with today's fast-paced, technologically-driven world."The idea that Neanderthals were hunched over, dim-witted individuals with no thought beyond their next meal is no longer tenable," palaeolithic archaeologist Dr April Noel told Mail Online.

"At the same time, the idea that you could just slap a hat on a Neanderthal and you would not think twice about sitting next to him on the tube is also out the window."

It begs the question - what would the world be like if several human species had survived ?

Would they have integrated into our society, or would there be separate 'tribes' ?

What about issues of equality and race ?

It would certainly have made for a much more complex (and potentially volatile) society.

Source: Mail Online | Comments (38)

Tags: Neanderthals