CA19141 - Integrating Neandertal Legacy: From Past to Present (iNEAL)

Neandertals are the first human population that can be truly recognized as pan-European phenomenon. Traces of their cultural and/or skeletal remains can be found in most European countries and cover a period of more than 250 000 years. A lot of scientific work has been done on various aspects of their heritage and there is a vast collection of archaeological and anthropological data available. However, there is still a discrepancy in available and updated datasets from various countries. In addition, communication between scientists from various fields and from various countries is still based on personal connections between individual scientists, mostly related to specific projects. This Action is a long overdue attempt to bridge the geographic, language, disciplinary-and-data specific gap, as well as a gap created by traditions of different disciplines in different European countries. Through a combined, scientifically-based and geographically inclusive approach, creation of a growing inclusive database, and promoting dialogue among scientists and creating guidelines for research, a solid base for better understanding of Neandertals can be reached. Further, this will allow a base for inclusion of Neandertal legacy into the present, through scientifically based guidelines for public presentation and further actions for promoting their heritage via inclusion of non-scientific stakeholders, such as administrators, museum and cultural workers, touristic sector, small and medium enterprises and other interested parties.