Final answer:
Neanderthal fossils in Israel are significant because they shed light on Neanderthal distribution, coexistence with early Homo Sapiens, and aspects of their culture, like potential burial practices and hunting activities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The AMHS and Neanderthal fossils found in Israel are significant because they provide important insights into our evolutionary past, human migration, and the extent of Neanderthal distribution. Neanderthals are known to have lived in regions of Europe and the Middle East between about 400,000 and 40,000 years ago, with their first fossils discovered in the Neander Valley in Germany. The Neanderthal and early Homo Sapiens Sapiens remains discovered in Israel suggest that both species coexisted in the area approximately 30,000 years ago, a time when life was challenging, and resources were limited due to the cold climate.
Further, studies conducted on Neanderthal remains, such as those from Shanidar Cave, provide valuable knowledge about their lifestyle, mortality, and potential burial practices. The injuries found on the skeletal remains indicate the risks associated with hunting during that era and suggest that female Neanderthals may have also participated in hunting activities. The exploration of burial sites continues to raise questions about Neanderthal cultural practices, such as whether they engaged in funerary rituals or ancestor worship.