What was unique about Neanderthals?

A) Their brains were larger than modern man

B) They were the first species to bury their dead

C) They disappeared for no apparent reason

D) All of the above

D) All of the above

Explanation:

All three characteristics indicated in options A, B and C are unique about the Neanderthals:

Neanderthals had a large brain. On average, males had brain size of 1,600 cm3, while for females it was 1,300 cm3, which is larger than brain size of modern humans. Meanwhile, this difference in size did not make Neanderthals more intelligent than Homo sapiens. Humans have different brain organisation and size of certain parts. In particular, the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for complex cognitive behavior, is larger in modern humans. Being one of the earliest religious practices, burial was a significant characteristic of the Neanderthals. Based on archaeological evidence, they were the first species who involved in this practice. Neanderthals buried dead in shallow graves, enriching them with tools made of stones and animal bones. Though there is a wide range of theories that try to explain the extinction of the Neanderthals, none was accepted to be definite. Among the prominent explanations, scholars suggest violent confrontations with homo sapiens as well as infection with pathogens or parasites carried by latter, interbreeding among Neanderthals, and natural catastrophe of Campanian Ignimbrite Eruption (39,280 ± 110 years ago).