Scientists from the University of Ferrara (Italy) have determined from remains near Verona in northern Italy that Neanderthal probably wore ornamental feathers. This is in addition to previous evidence that he wore jewelery in the form of brightly colored mollusc shells. The wearing of decorative or symbolic ornaments would demonstrate that he was more than an animalistic brute. Per the article:

"This research might help dismiss an unfair prejudice and a creeping scientific racism. It shows that our extinct cousins had a particular concern about their physical appearance and their ethosocial identification, which is something that has long been considered a prerogative of the anatomically modern human," Peresani told Discovery News."

The findings have been published in the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

http://news.discovery.com/archaeology/neanderthals-feathers-accesso...

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-02-evidence-neanderthals-feathers....