Was there a relationship between the Neanderthals and God?

The Neanderthals ( Neanderthalensis) lived for 100's of thousands of years and only died out 40,000 years ago. Fossilised evidence shows that they buried their dead. As they were of the same genus as humans were they, likewise, created in God's image? Of course, this was all antediluvium stuff. It may even have predated the Garden of Eden. What is the Christian take on this?