The Emerging Fate Of The Neanderthals

Eureka Alert ^ | 4-23-2007 | Erik Trinkaus

[blam]

Contact: Erik Trinkaus
trinkaus@wustl.edu
314-935-5207
Washington University in St. Louis

The emerging fate of the Neandertals

For nearly a century, anthropologists have been debating the relationship of Neandertals to modern humans. Central to the debate is whether Neandertals contributed directly or indirectly to the ancestry of the early modern humans that succeeded them.

As this discussion has intensified in the past decades, it has become the central research focus of Erik Trinkaus, Ph.D., professor of anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis. Trinkaus has examined the earliest modern humans in Europe, including specimens in Romania, Czech Republic and France. Those specimens, in Trinkaus' opinion, have shown obvious Neandertal ancestry.

In an article appearing the week of April 23 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Trinkaus has brought together the available data, which shows that early modern humans did exhibit evidence of Neandertal traits.

"When you look at all of the well dated and diagnostic early modern European fossils, there is a persistent presence of anatomical features that were present among the Neandertals but absent from the earlier African modern humans," Trinkaus said. "Early modern Europeans reflect both their predominant African early modern human ancestry and a substantial degree of admixture between those early modern humans and the indigenous Neandertals."

This analysis, along with a number of considerations of human genetics, argues that the fate of the Neandertals was to be absorbed into modern human groups. Just as importantly, it also says that the behavioral difference between the groups were small. They saw each other as social equals.

[Cacique]

btt

[Jim Noble]

After the last century, I have no doubt about what befell the Neanderthals

[null and void]

Ummmm, exactly what did you mean by that post?

[SunkenCiv]

I was beginning to be concerned that I'd never have the opportunity to reprise this again...

The Neandertal Enigma
by James Shreeve

Frayer's own reading of the record reveals a number of overlooked traits that clearly and specifically link the Neandertals to the Cro-Magnons. One such trait is the shape of the opening of the nerve canal in the lower jaw, a spot where dentists often give a pain-blocking injection. In many Neandertal, the upper portion of the opening is covered by a broad bony ridge, a curious feature also carried by a significant number of Cro-Magnons. But none of the alleged 'ancestors of us all' fossils from Africa have it, and it is extremely rare in modern people outside Europe." [pp 126-127]

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Blam.

"Is that your fate emerging, or are you just happy to see me" ping.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
"Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

[gleeaikin]

I think that what he meant was that the newcomers exterminated them. Gates to the Nazi concentration camps read “Work makes you free.”

[Max in Utah]

Ironically this was a succesful movement, co2 was so low that they ended up with the ice age. :-)

IT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST

One minute the two space Hab astronauts were scoop-diving the atmosphere, the next they'd been shot down over the North Dakota Glacier and were the object of a massive manhunt by the United States government.

That government, dedicated to saving the environment from the evils of technology, had been voted into power because everybody knew that the Green House Effect had to be controlled, whatever the cost. But who would have thought that the cost of ending pollution would include not only total government control of day-to-day life, but the onset of a new Ice Age?

Stranded in the anti-technological heartland of America, paralyzed by Earth's gravity, the "Angels" had no way back to the Space Habs, the last bastions of high technology and intellectual freedom on or over the Earth. But help was on its way, help from the most unlikely sources ....

Join # 1 national bestsellers Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle and Michael Flynn in a world where civilization is on the ropes, and the environmentalists have created their own worst nightmare: A world of

Fallen Angels

http://www.webscription.net/10.1125/Baen/067172052X/067172052X.htm

[chesley]

Where’s the joke? I just think it’s sad, ‘cause it’s obviously true. LOL!

[null and void]

I recognize those particular gates of Hell.

I’m quite curious what Mr. Noble meant.

[dsc]

“Fallen Angels “

That was the last SF book I read, before I gave it up.

[dsc]

“Just as importantly, it also says that the behavioral difference between the groups were small. They saw each other as social equals.”

My, but crap like this makes my butt tired.

They saw each other as social equals, did they? Sure, either that or they ate the men and kept the women around to satisfy other appetites.

Has the level of intelligence in arts and parties departments sunk so low that they don’t even realize how stupid a statement like that makes them look?

[Jessarah]

"When you look at all of the well dated and diagnostic early modern European fossils, there is a persistent presence of anatomical features that were present among the Neandertals but absent from the earlier African modern humans,"

I wish they'd give us examples!