They were bigger, stronger, and tougher than humans. They were superb hunters who were well adapted to the harsh climate of Europe's last ice age. By comparison, humans were thin-skinned weaklings, better suited to the tropical climate of northwest Africa where they had evolved. So when tribes of humans expanded into their territory 35,000 years ago, why did Neanderthal civilization melt away, like the glaciers receding across Europe?
The answer is social skills. Neanderthals, like humans, had big brains. They manufactured tools and clothing, communicated verbally, and organized themselves into efficient hunting packs. But it was the degree of organization that made all the difference. By the time they confronted Neanderthals, humans had learned to divide the basic tasks of survival – hunting, tool-making, food preparation – into specialized units of labor. They had learned that the longer they kept their children out of harm's way, the better chance they had to become contributing members of the tribe. They had developed religion and rituals that bound the group together.
The fossil record suggests that Neanderthals had some organizational skills, but females and older children probably accompanied males on the hunt. Human and Neanderthal bones from the same location and time period suggest two sharply different lifestyles. Many of the bones of Neanderthal men, women, and children show multiple scars and fractures of a brutal existence. By contrast, the human bones show little damage beyond the usual wear and tear.
Life was a challenge for both groups, but the humans divided the challenge among themselves so that individual members of the tribe became highly skilled at one task. Neanderthals met the challenges together, but relied on their own individual strength and stamina to prevail.
What accounts for these organizational differences? Based on the DNA and fossil record, scientists speculate that although both groups had similar sized brains, human brains had developed an increased capacity for language and social skills. Humans were better able to control their aggression and delay their gratification, which allowed them to work together more effectively and take fewer risks.
It's not clear if humans actually wiped out the Neanderthals or simply out-competed them. But the story bursts the myth of the rugged individual. Put in terms of popular culture, Neanderthal versus human was like Rambo meets the Borg Collective. We may cheer for Rambo, but the Borg always wins.
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