The first recognized fossil of a Neanderthal was discovered in the Neander Valley in Germany. The discovery of this ancient human relative generated intense scientific and public debate about human origins, evolution, and the antiquity of humanity. Neanderthals have since become a central figure in the story of human evolution.

The discovery of Neanderthals presented a direct challenge to humanity's unique status and origin story, one that poets like Tennyson had already begun to grapple with. The Neanderthal, as an 'other' that is also an ancestor, has inspired poets and novelists to reflect on what it means to be human, and the possibilities and failures of our own species.