Final answer:
The key characteristic of early humans that allowed them to out-compete other species was their advanced cognitive abilities, which led to technological innovations, sophisticated culture, and adaptability in various climates and environments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The key characteristic of early humans that allowed them to effectively out-compete other species was their unprecedented cognitive abilities. Homo sapiens developed a sophisticated toolkit that included scraping tools, knives, burins, awls, needles, spatulas, and weapons, demonstrating their superior technological capabilities. Their brain's architecture provided them with exceptional memory, reasoning, and problem-solving skills, allowing for the creation of complex social structures, communication through developed language, and the passing on of knowledge. Moreover, Homo sapiens were able to utilize their dexterity and bipedal locomotion to explore and thrive in diverse environments. This ability to adapt was complemented by the use of fire and the fashioning of clothes from animal skins to endure differing climates. It was the combination of these cognitive, physical, and technological capacities that gave early humans a decisive edge over other contemporaneous species and hominins like the Neanderthals.These qualities are reflected in the many artifacts left behind by Homo sapiens, from sophisticated weapons to symbolic objects like jewelry and figurines signaling complex cultural development. These artifacts are clear indicators of the progressive human ability to innovate and adapt tools and technology over generations, a critical aspect of our ancestor's survival and proliferation.
Learn more about Early Human Survival