The Neanderthal Museum in Mettmann

“Neanderthals!” is a compliment.

“Neanderthal”, that’s what we sometimes say when we talk about a rather uncouth contemporary. Those, who we furthermore consider not very clever, primitive and brutal. Quite wrong! Neanderthals people populated Europe for a good 250,000 years. Not stooped and with the club in their hands, as they are often said to have done. All the opposite,  with sophisticated hunting techniques and social care for their relatives.

They were first….in art and culture

And by the way: It is not, as previously assumed, modern man (Homo sapiens) who created the first verifiable work of art in human history. In fact, the Neanderthal person (Homo neanderthalensis) created it, who lived in Europe long before them. This was discovered by an international team of researchers under the leadership of the Leipzig Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. Spanish cave paintings. They  include animals, dots, strokes and handprints, which are significantly older than 64,000 years. And so modern man (homo sapiens) is “out of the game” for the time being. So maybe we should be a bit more modest about this.

A skull in Mettmann

The Neanderthals definitely could do much more than just hunt well. They adapted to the harsh living conditions of the ice age and thus ensured their survival. But a good 30,000 years ago, their trail disappeared. That they existed at all only came to light 150 years ago when a skull of a prehistoric man was found. Near Mettmann in the Neander Valley.

Time travel through history

Researchers around the world are trying to clarify: Who was our distant relative? Where do we come from? Who are we? A central place where these research results are collected at an actual site is the NEANDERTHAL MUSEUM in Mettmann. Would you like to go on a time travel through four million years of history? Moreover, not only one on a tour of the museum with the classic view of showcases and display boards. in addition, with a walk to the site, along the art trail “MenschenSpuren” (Traces of Man) and into the game reserve, with wild horses, aurochses and bison. How about a trip to the archaeologists in their laboratory, or straight to the Stone Age workshop? Try out for yourself how much skill is required to handle Stone Age tools. And that it is not so easy to hit a target with bow and arrow or the spear sling, even if the target does not move at all.

From Neanderthals to ancient Rome

The NEANDERTHAL MUSEUM offers education you can touch, informative and entertaining, soundly prepared, experience the history of mankind with all your senses. In fact, the versatile programme is available for children, but also in a version for adults.

The current special exhibition seems almost “youthful” when it comes to the history of mankind.  “Gladiators. Heroes of the Arena.” In cooperation with Contemporanea Progetti and Expona, it takes you into the world of the ancient Roman battle arenas. It is about training and equipment. …and a truly life-threatening profession.

Life is no comic strip adventure

The much quoted “They’re crazy, the Romans” was first mentioned by the Gaul Obelix in Goscinny and Uderzo’s comic “Asterix as Gladiator”. In the course of this turbulent story, he and Asterix teach the gladiators in the arena funny guessing games instead of bloody fights. In fact, it was quite different in real life. As the life of Roman professional fighters was certainly not relaxed. In other words, their everyday life was connected with high esteem and honor, but also with at least as much physical effort.

The Neanderthal Museum

The NEANDERTHAL MUSEUM is just right for a day trip, whether alone, with friends or the whole family. And if you feel a little dizzy after your time travel: Why not take a seat on the large leather sofa in the living room of mankind. To a family photo in the middle of human history, from contemporaries and ancestors. After all, the family doesn’t get together that quickly, does it?