Calling someone a Neanderthal is actually a compliment.

Scientists have discovered the first direct evidence of human-made cordage --- manufactured string --- in a European site that dates back 90,000 years.

Europe was then occupied only by homo neanderthalensis; homo sapiens hadn't yet arrived. In fact, there's no evidence of string making by h. sapiens, anywhere, that far back.

This suggests that our species may have learned learned cordage from the Neanderthals, and not the other way around.

Relatedly, the discovery of ancient cordage buttresses earlier controversial findings that Neanderthals may have built boats and knew how to sail.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22029432.800?cmpid=NLC%7CNSNS%7C2013-1114-GLOBAL&utm_medium=NLC&utm_source=NSNS&#.UoT3xZAo6aw