[SunkenCiv]

Neandertal was a speaking species. It was once claimed that Neandertals lacked a hyoid bone and couldn't speak. When a Neandertal hyoid was identified, other excuses emerged, all of which have no basis except in bias. It's a strange phenomenon to observe how a 19th century anti-evolution bigwig (Virchow) has had his views adopted by the pro-evolution camp.

[NicknamedBob]

"Neandertal was a speaking species."

I never surmised that Neanderthals were not a speaking species, but I am willing to use that contention, however ill-founded, as an allegorical explanation for their inability to compete successfully, and eventually triumph.

Something in their genetic makeup, or social construction, operated against them whether it was speech, memory, or even olfactory insufficiencies (of either type).

Or maybe the Main Stream was just against them.