Neanderthals: Top-Notch Hunters

Discovery News ^ | 2-1-2006 | Rossella Lorenzi

[blam]

"The simple answer to the question of why Neanderthals became extinct is 'nobody knows.'

We are Neanderthals, they became us.

[blam]

GGG Ping.

[mlc9852]

Did they have language?

[wideawake]

I thought they did Geico commercials.

[ASA Vet]

Red Heads are good looking hunters.

[luvbach1]

We are Neanderthals, they became us.

Although speculation is rife that Neanderthals may have interbred with Cro-magnon (physiologically modern humans), the relatively recent period in which they (the Neanderthals) were extant would not have allowed enough time for them to have fully evolved into modern humans.Most anthropologists believe the Neanderthal and Cro-magnon co-existed for a time. If that's true they must have evolved separately.

[massgopguy]

Ha Ha Neanderthals. Can't make fire. - Far Side

[Brazoria Bound]

Interesting story on your note there, but I was talking once to a archaeologist who also dabbled in ancient history. He had a great observation that was totally unprovable:

Centaurs in ancient writings were actually Neanderthals, for two reasons; 1) Through the handing down of oral tradition, the Neanderthals didn't actually have horse's legs, but since they were more tied into nature, they ran more like animals, uninhibited by reason how fast and long they could run, like how a chimp with smaller muscle mass than humans can outperform us in physical tasks 2) Centaurs were famous herbal healers, and Neanderthals, again being tied into close to nature, would have a more robust knowledge of natural medical cures than the detached Greeks, who depended on their philosophy to arrive at medical goals

Like I said, totally unprovable, but it makes for a great mental exercise of what might be...

[Kenny Bunk]

We are Neanderthals, they became us.

I don't think they "evolved" into us. The Cro-Magnons more than likely cross-bred with them and vice-versa..

BTW, the illustration looks like a late-model, good-lookin' Neanderthal

[Kenny Bunk]

We are Neanderthals, they became us.

I don't think they "evolved" into us. The Cro-Magnons more than likely cross-bred with them and vice-versa..

BTW, the illustration looks like a late-model, good-lookin' Neanderthal!

[sheik yerbouty]

They have their own niche in Hollywood..

[lilylangtree]

Didn't become extinct. Neanderthals (the world still has them) evolved.

[sheik yerbouty]

Yes, but their voice box is quite high in the throat, possibly an Ice Age adaptation. Speech would be somewhat less articulate..

[pabianice]

The peaceful Neanderthals went extinct about 30,000 years ago, after having inhabited Europe and parts of Asia for roughly 200,000 years, killed by Global Warming caused by fires set by early European modern man...

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Neanderthals went extinct about 30,000 years ago, after having inhabited Europe and parts of Asia for roughly 200,000 years.

The Neanderthals were hunted to extinction by tribal leader Bushgar after a series of terror attacks on Homo Sapien cultural centers. /sarcasm

[sheik yerbouty]

The advent of good cutting tools obviated the need for massive physical strength which their bone structure indicates. Hence, thos born Neanderthals who were less robust had a better chance to survive.

[Kenny Bunk]

This just in from France:

Anatomically modern humans have long been thought to have been responsible for the Aurignacian and Chatelperronian industries of the early Upper Palaeolithic of Western Europe, whereas the Middle Palaeolithic Mousterian industry has been attributed to Neanderthals.

The presence of both Middle and Upper Palaeolithic strata at Saint-Cesaire in France offers an excellent opportunity for studying the cultural transition between the two. Saint-Cesaire is the only Chatelperronian site that has yielded really diagnostic hominid fossils, and the discovery there of Neanderthal remains alongside Chatelperronian tools cast doubt on the exclusive association between industries and taxon.

We report thermoluminescence dates for 20 burnt flints from the site. Those found near the Neanderthal remains were dated at 36,300 +/- 2,700 years BP (before present), making this specimen the youngest Neanderthal dated so far. This date places the stratum close in age to several French but much younger than some Spanish Aurignacian sites believed to have been occupied by modern humans.

The possibility of contact between the West European Neanderthals and the intrusive modern humans who replaced them cannot therefore be excluded.

[mlc9852]

Could they have bred?

[JAWs]

We are Neanderthals,

Me resent remark. Ugh. Me express disagreement with me club!

[bpjam]

Top reasons that Neaderthals became extinct:

1. Not enough global warming.

2. Lack of comprehensive universal health care.

3. No Family Leave Act.

4. All the females died in back alley abortions because Neaderthal men wouldn't let them have 'choice.'

5. Second Hand Smoke.

6. Neaderthals were replaced by cheaper foreign Cro-Magnon men due to rampant outsourcing as a result of bad trade deals which failed to require environmental and labor standards on competitors.

7. Chuck Norris killed them all

.....

I could do this all day. Anybody else want in?