Is the author suggesting there was an intermediate progenitor—to NOT include Neandertal?
What does it suggest about the history of a wrecked car when the 'car'cass is in Los Angels and in the glove box are gas station receipts from NYC, a later one from Cleveland, and a still later one from Tulsa?
Can you determine with certainty from this that the car passed through Phoenix or Las Vegas or Reno?