Which of the following statements is considered true of neanderthals? a. they evolved into homo sapiens. b. they had some system of religious beliefs about afterlife. c. they had smaller brains than homo sapiens (modern humans). d. they emerged after the ice age.

The correct answer will be option D (They emerged after the ice age)

Explanation:

Homo neanderthalensis also known as Neanderthals were our closest extinct evolutionary relatives, which were evolved from Homo erectus between 300,000 and 200,000 years ago during Pleistocene Epoch.

They co-existed with modern humans (Homo sapiens) for long periods of time and were replaced by modern human populations in last 30,000 to 24000 years.

Their bigger bodies were with short legs were well adapted to preserve heat during cold climate (Bergmann's and Allen's rule) suggest that they lived before and during the last ice age in harsh environments for tens to thousands of years and scattered across Europe and the Middle East after ice age.

thus, option D is the correct answer.