The Cousins of Humans Who Got Extinct 40,000 Years Ago—Who Were They?
Yuvraj Nanda | Mar 08, 2025, 20:22 IST
Around 40,000 years ago, a species strikingly similar to us disappeared forever. Who were they, and why didn’t they survive? These ancient relatives of modern humans lived, hunted, and even interbred with our ancestors—but something led to their extinction. Dive into the mystery of their existence and their ultimate fate.
Evolution of beings is complex. For thousands of years, a species roamed the Earth alongside our ancestors. They used to hunt, create tools, and even left behind the traces of their DNA in modern humans. And yet, this entire branch of the human family tree disappeared 40,000 years ago. Who were these cousin species of us and why did they (or could they) not survive? And most importantly, what can their story tell us about our own existence?
In this article, we now tend to uncover the mystery of our lost cousins—a species so much alike to us, yet doomed to vanish from history.
The Neanderthals.
Whenever we seek information or even think of ancient humans, we often picture early Homo sapiens, our direct ancestors. But for much of prehistory, we were not actually alone. There was another species called Neanderthals—intelligent, strong, and adaptable—who walked the same lands as us.
Fossil evidence and genetic studies confirm that these early humans:
• Had larger brains than modern humans, suggesting high intelligence.
• Lived in Europe and Asia for over 300,000 years before their disappearance.
• Crafted advanced tools, created symbolic art, and possibly had their own language.
• Even interbred with Homo sapiens, leaving behind genetic traces in non-African populations today.
Despite their similarities to us, they were not the ones who survived. So, what happened to them?
Their extinction remains one of the greatest mysteries of human evolution.
There are several possible theories:
• Climate Change: Drastic shifts in climate may have reduced food sources, making survival harder.
• Competition with Homo Sapiens: As our ancestors spread, they may have outcompeted them for resources and territory.
• Interbreeding & Absorption: Instead of dying out, they may have gradually merged with modern human populations through interbreeding.
• Disease & Weak Immune Systems: New diseases carried by migrating Homo sapiens could have wiped them out.
Each theory presents a piece of the puzzle, but no single explanation fully accounts for their complete disappearance.
Their Legacy Still Lives
Even though they entirely vanished off from the planet, they did not genetically deplete yet. If you are of non-African descent, you likely carry at least some of their DNA. Scientists today estimate that we, the modern humans till date retain 1-4% of their genetic material, which influences everything straight from our immune system strengths to the physical traits we possess.
Their contributions to the evolution of humans remain undeniable. The tools which they developed, the survival techniques pioneered by them, and even their genetic existence all continue to live and survive within us. They may have vanished from history, but in a way, they never truly left.
The story of these lost human relatives is a reminder that survival is not always guaranteed, even for the strongest of species like the Neanderthals. As the climate changes, technology advances, and globally occurring events blend up to continue to shape the future of the world. Who is to say that we, the modern humans won’t face a similar fate one day?
While their disappearance and extinction from the world may still be a mystery, but one thing is clear that they were here and were relevant to the planet, and their story is still unfolding through us in the current times.
In this article, we now tend to uncover the mystery of our lost cousins—a species so much alike to us, yet doomed to vanish from history.
The Neanderthals.
The Close Relatives We Never Knew
A portrayal of Neanderthals
Whenever we seek information or even think of ancient humans, we often picture early Homo sapiens, our direct ancestors. But for much of prehistory, we were not actually alone. There was another species called Neanderthals—intelligent, strong, and adaptable—who walked the same lands as us.
Fossil evidence and genetic studies confirm that these early humans:
• Had larger brains than modern humans, suggesting high intelligence.
• Lived in Europe and Asia for over 300,000 years before their disappearance.
• Crafted advanced tools, created symbolic art, and possibly had their own language.
• Even interbred with Homo sapiens, leaving behind genetic traces in non-African populations today.
Despite their similarities to us, they were not the ones who survived. So, what happened to them?
Why Did They Disappear?
Their extinction remains one of the greatest mysteries of human evolution.
There are several possible theories:
• Climate Change: Drastic shifts in climate may have reduced food sources, making survival harder.
• Competition with Homo Sapiens: As our ancestors spread, they may have outcompeted them for resources and territory.
• Interbreeding & Absorption: Instead of dying out, they may have gradually merged with modern human populations through interbreeding.
• Disease & Weak Immune Systems: New diseases carried by migrating Homo sapiens could have wiped them out.
Each theory presents a piece of the puzzle, but no single explanation fully accounts for their complete disappearance.
Their Legacy Still Lives
A depiction of Neanderthals
Even though they entirely vanished off from the planet, they did not genetically deplete yet. If you are of non-African descent, you likely carry at least some of their DNA. Scientists today estimate that we, the modern humans till date retain 1-4% of their genetic material, which influences everything straight from our immune system strengths to the physical traits we possess.
Their contributions to the evolution of humans remain undeniable. The tools which they developed, the survival techniques pioneered by them, and even their genetic existence all continue to live and survive within us. They may have vanished from history, but in a way, they never truly left.
The story of these lost human relatives is a reminder that survival is not always guaranteed, even for the strongest of species like the Neanderthals. As the climate changes, technology advances, and globally occurring events blend up to continue to shape the future of the world. Who is to say that we, the modern humans won’t face a similar fate one day?
While their disappearance and extinction from the world may still be a mystery, but one thing is clear that they were here and were relevant to the planet, and their story is still unfolding through us in the current times.