That’s interesting, but Neandertal didn’t die out. :’) Also, the book may have referred to the mammoth rather than the mastodon:
> ...the Eurasian species Mammut borsoni died out approximately three million years ago.
This is amusing and bemusing at the same time:
> Neanderthals... did seem to have one thing in common with rodeo riders: injuries. In 1995, paleoanthropologists Thomas Berger and Erik Trinkaus, now at Washington University in St. Louis, noted that Neanderthals had a disproportionate number of injuries to their heads and necks. The same is true among modern rodeo riders... Neanderthals’ [alleged] hunting style — sneaking up on prey and jabbing them with heavy spears — brought their upper bodies within striking distance of large, hoofed animals... Recently, in the Journal of Archaeological Science, Trinkaus... considered the injuries recorded in the bones of early modern humans... Statistically speaking... saw no difference between the two species’ wounds; they both suffered a lot of harm to the head and neck. This means ambush hunting may not account for all of these injuries because humans [allegedly] often hurled projectiles at animals while standing back at a safe distance. Recent archaeological work indicates Neanderthals might have done the same thing on occasion. Instead, the source of those injuries might have been violent attacks within or between the two species.
What it may mean is, the constant saddling on of reasons for alleged N extinction includes supposed differences in hunting styles. The differences basically don’t exist, and the anatomical differences that are supposed to be oh-so crucial are imaginary, much like the ongoing “Neandertal couldn’t talk” fiasco.
you should scan the book i mention. it makes a convincing argument that the anatomical differences are significant, starting with the daily caloric requirement, roughly 2x in neanderthals. anatomy better suited to ambush hunting , not running game down. poor strategy in open ground.
also, why do you say the didn’t die out? they became extinct. is there a difference?
Given the Neanderthal DNA found in European and Asian people, but not in sub-Saharan African people, my guess is that African humans interbred with Neanderthals, and the resulting hybrid was superior to either ancestor in the northern environment.