The Cro-Magnon race refers to a prehistoric group of anatomically modern Homo sapiens who lived during the Upper Paleolithic period, approximately 40,000 to 10,000 years ago, in what is now Europe. These early humans are classified as belonging to the Homo sapiens sapiens subspecies and are considered to be the direct ancestor of modern humans.
The Cro-Magnons are distinguished by their skeletal remains, which exhibit characteristics similar to modern humans, such as a high forehead, prominent chin, and rounded skull. They were also more robustly built than their predecessors, Neanderthals, who they coexisted with for some time. Unlike Neanderthals, the Cro-Magnons were skilled in various artistic and intellectual pursuits. They created intricate cave paintings, sculpted figurines, and developed sophisticated tools and weapons.
The Cro-Magnon people were hunter-gatherers, relying on hunting large animals, fishing, and gathering wild plants for sustenance. They lived in caves or constructed temporary shelters, exhibiting signs of social organization and cultural developments, including burial rituals and personal adornment.
The term "Cro-Magnon race" is often used in a broad sense to refer to all early modern humans of the Upper Paleolithic period in Europe. However, it is important to note that "race" in this context does not carry the same connotations as its common usage today, as it is primarily a broad classification based on shared physical and genetic characteristics.
