Agreed about that being the scientific question about Neanderthals, but the answering has to stop at the evidence and not build on dogma. Otherwise, the Old World strawman effect of arguing catastrophism versus uniformitarianism sets in and muddies the waters—which is sad in the USA’s case since the government formed by its Founding Fathers was supposed to prevent such government-influenced anti-Baconism.
I'll repeat, both speculations and hypotheses are essential to the scientific method, since they get scientists started down the track of confirming or falsifying theories.
As for alleged " dogma", I presume what you mean by that is anything you disagree with, right?
So, now... we must establish, at tax-payer expense, an Office of Olog-hai which will pass judgment on all scientific papers as to whether they are "dogma" or not??!
Good luck getting Congress to pass that one!
;-)