[SunkenCiv]

a tall glass of the usual, please:

The Neandertal Enigma
by James Shreeve

Frayer's own reading of the record reveals a number of overlooked traits that clearly and specifically link the Neandertals to the Cro-Magnons. One such trait is the shape of the opening of the nerve canal in the lower jaw, a spot where dentists often give a pain-blocking injection. In many Neandertal, the upper portion of the opening is covered by a broad bony ridge, a curious feature also carried by a significant number of Cro-Magnons. But none of the alleged 'ancestors of us all' fossils from Africa have it, and it is extremely rare in modern people outside Europe." [pp 126-127]

[rmlew]

The question then is is it a sign of common lineage or a trait that developed seperately, probably as an adaptation to cold weather.
Homo Sapien remains are found in North Africa and the Middle East earlier than in Europe. Hence I find teh prospect of a European evolution from Homo Sapien Neanderthalis to Homo Sapien Sapien unlikely. We are a seperate evolutions from Homo heidelbergensis.

I would note that until recently, people thought that the pattern was H. Habilis --> H. Ergaster --> H. Erectus --> H. Neanderthal --> H. Sapien.
Now we have two branches from H. Ergaster. One is Homo Erectus. The other is Homo heidelbergensis from which we and Neanderthals arose.

Call me a pessimist, but given the history of better armed Homo Sapiens killing off less advanced modern humans, I beleived that our ancestors killed off most Neanderthals, leaving the rest to die out.

Ron
PS. If you want a real headache, imagine if H. Neanderthalis and H. Sapien were seperate species but capable of producing some fertile hybrids. With Neanderthals all but wiped out a few interbred with modern humans. (This is not unheard of. Lions and Tigers can produce viable offspring, some of which can succesfully reproduce. For a less exotic and freaky example, look at canines. Are Wolves and Coyotes really different species? The Red Wolf from a genetic and geographical level seems to be the result of hybridization from male Gray Wolves and female Coyotes. Any of these can also mate with certain breeds of domestic dog.)