Ever since the Neandertal (Homo neanderthalensis) type fossil was discovered in the Neander Valley of Germany in 1856, the species has been variously portrayed as knuckle-dragging cavemen and primitive members of the human family tree who became extinct as a result of being more stupid than members of our own species, Homo sapiens.
History
Citation
Jacobs, Z., Soressi, M. & Mcpherron, S. (2013). Neandertal toolmakers left a leatherworking legacy. The Conversation, 13 August 1-4.