Neandertals (Homo neandertalensis) were the first extinct hominin species ever discovered. Since their fossils were first found in the mid-1800s, they have been depicted as everything from brutish cavemen to richly cultured ice age hunters. Since 2010, however, the ability to sequence their ancient DNA has led to shocking new discoveries, including that they mated with our ancestors and that most of us still carry their DNA today.
This BBC video further elaborates on the relationship between our species and Neandertals.
