[greenwolf]

"Classical" Neanderthals had MUCH heavier bones and muscle attachments than modern man. Although stockier and of shorter stature, they were far tougher, physically,than we are.

Images I've seen simply do not show that much difference between neanderthal and modern skeletons other than height. At least one article on the web describes the neanderthal as a 5'6" endomorph marginally different in build from modern people living in cold climates. That's basically a 5 foot six eskimo. How much of a chance would you give a five foot six eskimo in the ring with Rocky Marciano?

This particular article seems to imply that there was a degree of intermixing between early modern man and Neanderthal man in parts of Europe.

That contradicts everything I've read. One typical article describes modern man and neanderthals as last sharing a common ancestor about half a million years ago. Articles I've read describe neanderthal DNA as ape-like and not related to ours at all.

[Junior]

Differences extended to the angle at which the spinal cord entered the skull, the heavier and thicker frontal (brow) bones and the dentition; in addition to the heavier cross-section of the limb bones and the larger muscle anchor points. Skilled anthropologists and paleontologists have no problem differentiating between Homo Sapien and Homo Neanderthalensis.