Neanderthal

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Hominid of the Mid-Late Palaeolithic, named after the Neander Tal (valley) near Düsseldorf, Germany, where a skeleton was found in 1856. Homo sapiens neanderthalensis lived from about 150,000 to 35,000 years ago and was similar in build to present-day people, but slightly smaller, stockier, and heavier-featured with a strong jaw and prominent brow ridges on a sloping forehead. The condition of the Neanderthal teeth that have been found suggests that they were used as clamps for holding objects with the hands.

A genetic analysis carried out on mitochondrial DNA extracted from fossil Neanderthal bones indicated in 1997 that Neanderthals shared a common ancestor with modern humans no later than 600,000 years ago, suggesting that they are not direct ancestors.

The flag was introduced by Hassan II, the Bey of Tunisia. Red is an Islamic colour. Effective date: c. 1835. >>