Final answer:
Neanderthals were skilled tool makers due to their development of the Mousterian tool industry, which introduced advanced flake tools. They combined cognitive skills and the physical ability to effectively use tools, laying the groundwork for future advancements.
Step-by-step explanation:
Neanderthals were skilled tool makers mostly because of their utilization of the Mousterian tool industry or the Middle Paleolithic tool industry, which represents a significant advancement from the Acheulian tools produced by H. erectus. Their technological prowess was evidenced by their ability to create flake tools by striking flakes from cores, resulting in sharper, smaller, and more versatile tools. These tools had increased utility for various tasks such as cutting, scraping, and as components of weapons like spears.
In addition, Neanderthals displayed sophisticated behaviors that hint at cognitive skills. Despite previous assumptions that they lacked symbolic or abstract communication, recent findings suggest they were capable of creating a material culture with potential symbolic or practical purposes. The Neanderthals' physical characteristics such as robust postcranial bones, a broad scapula, and powerful arm rotation ability, also provided them with the physical capability to use these tools effectively.
Moreover, advances in tool-making during the period, such as the prepared-core technique, laid the groundwork for further refinement in creating sharp, blade-like tools. However, while H. sapiens later expanded the variety of materials used for tools and moved towards the blade tool industry, Neanderthals had already achieved significant milestones in hominin tool-making through their Mousterian technology.