In The Footsteps Of Our Distant Cousins

Neanderthal is the temporary exhibit being held at the Museum of History at the moment. It is still running until late this month, if you happen to be in the area.

In the decades of the 19th century following the discovery of Neanderthal remains, there was a trend of scientific racism deeming these people to be brutes, savages, and less than human. This trend often showed itself in culture as well. But as the exhibit goes into detail, that was not the case. The story of the Neanderthal is a complex one of a species with a social structure, a sense of community, and problem solving intelligence. Human beings as we are today lived around and interacted with them... and in effect, they live on in us.

One of the first things we see are a collection of animals, still around today, that the Neanderthals of Europe would have been familiar with. Others, such as the cave bear, have gone extinct.

The muskoxen, Arctic fox, and ptarmigan, for instance.

Ravens, the golden eagle, and the wolf would be familiar sights for our genetic cousins.

As were the bison and the snowshoe hare.