text: distinguish between neanderthals and cro-magnons???   they were 2 branches of evolution - one made it (us) the other didn't (them - the neanderthals).  some basic differences were: they adapted to the cold, harsh climate in the european region - different looking jaw & forehead, intelligent, extremely strong, very hairy, and most interestingly, they had the ability to bend their joints backwards (we can't do this, try to bend your finger backwards, you can't, but they could.).   scars on their bodies prove that they could take really hard blows (e.g. in a hunt or fight or accident) and still heal and survive in a way that we cannot. why did they die out despite being stronger than us, that too in an ice age?  read this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/horizon/neanderthal_prog_summary.shtml