Part 5/9:
However, Neanderthals faced a new challenge when modern humans, Homo sapiens, emerged. As they began to explore and expand into Europe around 60,000 to 80,000 years ago, they were armed with advanced tools, such as throwing spears designed for long-distance hunting. The two species were not only competing for the same resources but also likely confronted one another in territorial disputes. For many scientists, this period marks the beginning of the end for Neanderthals, whose population dwindled dramatically within a mere 10,000 years of the arrival of modern humans.