It is interesting that the so-called “ginger gene” is found most in the farther reaches of the British Isles. My Scots ancestry husband had it in spades—red hair, bright light blue eyes, heavy brow ridge for homo sapiens, weak chin, massive shoulders, long torso and short legs, extreme mesomorph, very hairy chest and back and one shoulder, warrior temperment. So I think he could easily have been someone with the 4% Neanderthal genes.
The fact that the ginger gene is found on the periphery of Europe suggest to me that it was direct interbreeding, not a leftover from a previous hominid like Heidelberg man. Also, there are some traces from more recently than 30,000 years ago, and I think that Scotland or Ireland would be more likely for a remnant population, although they do not have very good conditions for preserving remains from 20,000 years ago.
Thanks for the ping, gleeaikin. Having Scottish genes, as my family does, it is known we are considered to be and have always been thought of as Neanderthals. Glad the genes were not left behind or my family would never have survived. Another story is the family name is now based on one lone male. Should he fail to deliver another male, the family name goes the way of the Neanderthals. In that respect our family is nearly extinct. Gave me a whole new perspective. Thanks, gleeaikin.