The extinction of Neanderthals is a subject that has been widely discussed in the fields of anthropology and archaeology. The finding of fossils and other evidence suggest that Neanderthals disappeared approximately 40,000 years ago. Various synonyms for the word "Neanderthal extinction" are available, including Neanderthal disappearance, Neanderthal demise, Neanderthal extinction event, and Neanderthal extinction crisis. Scientists have hypothesized that numerous factors contributed to their vanishing, including climate change, competition with modern humans, and disease. Despite the lack of consensus amongst researchers, it is clear that the Neanderthal extinction has had a significant impact on human evolution and our understanding of prehistory.