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Modern humans have developed a reputation for being somewhat destructive and keen to separate themselves from the rest of the animal kingdom.

However, a recent excavation of a cave in the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain is suggesting our ancient cousins, the Neanderthals, were more in tune with nature.

Archaeologists have discovered evidence that Neanderthals regularly inhabited the Cave of Llenes, near Senterada in Catalonia, around 200,000 years ago but were not alone.

The fossilised remains of badgers were found in old dens within the cave alongside Neanderthal camps

The remains of other canivores including cave bears, hyenas, leopards, wolves and badgers have been found in the cave and were apparently also living there.

While some of the bones may have been brought there by the Neanderthals themselves, it seems they were also sharing the cave with these other predators.

Scratches on the walls and hibernations nests particularly indicate that cave bears spent a considerable amount of time there.

Neanderthals, shown in the artist's impression above, may have lived alongside predators in a cave in Spain

Researchers found several cave bear fossils, similar to the one above, along with scratches on the walls and signs of hibernation nests that suggest they were living in the cave alongside Neanderthals 200,000 years ago

It is hoped the discoveries will help scientists learn more about Neanderthal behaviour and their relationship with the animals they co-existed with.

'The excavations have documented regular visits by groups Neanderthals, probably related to hunting animals living around the cave.'

The researchers discovered large numbers of stone tools made by Neanderthals and evidence of camps that were made close to the entrance of the cave.

They also found the fossilised bones of Bonal tahr – a species of wild sheep that became extinct in western Europe 100,000 years ago – which appear to have been hunted by the Neanderthals.

The researchers also found traces of other ungulates including deer, rhinos and megaloceros - a giant species of deer that is now extinct.

THE NEW VIEW OF NEANDERTHALS

Neanderthals first emerged around 280,000 years ago, spreading to inhabit much of Europe and parts of Asia, but they eventually died out 40,000 years ago. 

The reason for their demise was often put down to being a more primative species of human that was unable to compete against the more sophisticated Homo sapiens.

They were depicted as thuggish cavemen that scraped an existence on the cold lands of ice age Europe. 

However, a series of discoveries are now putting Neanderthals into a new light. Stone tools discovered at sites they inhabited suggest they were skilled tool makers with adept hand eye coordination.

A 60,000-year-old multi-purpose bone tool unearthed in France also suggests Neanderthals understood how to use bones to make useful devices 

A recent discovery by researchers at the Muséum National d'Histories Naturelle in Paris suggests that Neanderthals may have built homes using the materials they found around them.

They discovered a 26 feet wide building created 44,000 years ago from mammoth bones.

Many of the bones had also been decorated carvings and ochre pigments.

Cross-hatched engravings found inside Gorham's Cave in Gibraltar are also thought to be the first known examples of Neanderthal rock art.

DNA analysis has also shown that Neanderthals carried the same genes that are thought to have enabled modern humans to speak.

Eight talons found at a 130,000 year old Neanderthal site in Krapina in Croatia are also thought to be the world's first jewellery, and may have been worn as a necklace. 

Recent research has also suggested that Neanderthals may also have used herbs to flavour their food.

Neanderthals, like the one above, may well have been the world's first gourmet chefs and made jewellery