Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Bunnies implicated in the demise of Neanderthals
new scientist ^ | 18:10 01 March 2013 by | Sara Reardon

Posted on 03/04/2013 11:15:00 AM PST by BenLurkin

Now, John Fa of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in Trinity, Jersey, says Neanderthals eventually bit the dust because they were unable to adapt their hunting to small animals like rabbits.

Fa and his colleagues counted up the skeletons of animals found in three excavation sites in Spain and southern France. Up until 30,000 years ago, the remains of large animals such as deer were abundant in caves. But around that time, coinciding with the disappearance of Neanderthals, rabbit remains became more prevalent. The authors postulate that humans were more successful at switching to catching and eating rabbits.

It's not clear why Neanderthals would have had more trouble changing prey, says Fa. They may have been less able to cooperate. Rather than using spears, early humans probably surrounded a warren and flushed out rabbits with fire, smoke or dogs. But Bruce Hardy of Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, says Fa takes the interpretation too far. Humans may have eaten more rabbits than Neanderthals, but neither would have exclusively eaten meat, he says.

The question might be settled by what Fa says is his next project: studying the isotopes in the bones of hominins from this region, which may differ according to what they ate.

(Excerpt) Read more at newscientist.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: agriculture; animalhusbandry; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; jersey; johnfa; neandertal; neandertals; neanderthal; neanderthals; trinity
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-56 next last
To: Darksheare

21 posted on 03/04/2013 11:48:52 AM PST by Dead Corpse (I will not comply.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: a fool in paradise

They could have used the holy hand grenade of Antioch.


22 posted on 03/04/2013 11:51:03 AM PST by ALPAPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Bloody Sam Roberts

Missed it by less than a minute.


23 posted on 03/04/2013 11:52:42 AM PST by Sawdring
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin
And Who Ya Gonna Call!


24 posted on 03/04/2013 11:53:08 AM PST by TexasCajun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EQAndyBuzz
“Humans may have eaten more rabbits than Neanderthals”

>>Wonder what a Neanderthal tastes like.

If there had been Neanderthals in Indonesia when Barack was growing up, he'd know.

25 posted on 03/04/2013 11:53:50 AM PST by a fool in paradise (America 2013 - STUCK ON STUPID)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Dead Corpse

26 posted on 03/04/2013 11:57:12 AM PST by Darksheare (Try my coffee, first one's free.....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

And thus the story of the Eater Bunny was born.


27 posted on 03/04/2013 11:58:43 AM PST by count-your-change (you don't have to be brilliant, not being stupid is enough)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin
so much for vegan-ism...
28 posted on 03/04/2013 11:59:01 AM PST by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Darksheare

29 posted on 03/04/2013 11:59:47 AM PST by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: eCSMaster

Well played sir. Well played indeed!


30 posted on 03/04/2013 12:01:22 PM PST by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

I seem to recall some nut who is writing a story about killer rabbits...


31 posted on 03/04/2013 12:02:23 PM PST by Darksheare (Try my coffee, first one's free.....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: eCSMaster; dmz

32 posted on 03/04/2013 12:02:57 PM PST by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: a fool in paradise

33 posted on 03/04/2013 12:04:40 PM PST by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Chode

34 posted on 03/04/2013 12:08:24 PM PST by Doogle (USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin
My research shows that Neanderthrals failed to consult with Hefner!

Catching Bunnies is simple!

35 posted on 03/04/2013 12:08:32 PM PST by Young Werther (Julius Caesar said "Quae cum ita sunt. Since these things are so.".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: count-your-change
Eater Bunny? OK ...

 photo 1easterrbunny_zps808ace5f.jpg

36 posted on 03/04/2013 12:09:25 PM PST by Fast Moving Angel (A moral wrong is not a civil right: No religious sanction of an irreligious act.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: count-your-change

HERE COMES PETER COTTONTAIL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYR2cJO2dzM


37 posted on 03/04/2013 12:11:39 PM PST by Jonah Vark (Any 5th grader knows that the Constitution declares the separation of powers.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Doogle
LOL...
38 posted on 03/04/2013 12:14:02 PM PST by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin
looks like she just shot a hole through her ear...
39 posted on 03/04/2013 12:15:45 PM PST by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Chode

Yessir!


40 posted on 03/04/2013 12:22:00 PM PST by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-56 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson