As early as 300,000 years ago, a physical type known as Neandertals (Homo sapiens neanderthalensis) occupied Europe. In general, Neandertals were far more robust than us. They were much more muscular, especially in the neck and shoulder region, than all but the most massive of modern humans. The walls of their bones were very thick. Partly because of their overall massiveness, Neandertals had greater skull volumes than ours. One of their most obvious traits was a bony ridge above the eyes, which, combined with a protruding lower face, gave them their very distinctive appearance.