[blam]

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

We are Neanderthals, they became us.

[blam]

GGG Ping.

[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.

[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!

[lilylangtree]

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

[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

[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?

[trebb]

Just a couple weeks ago, there was an article saying that modern man was a better hunter because he used spears and slings. Now a story with the exact opposite slant. Ain't the science of who we were and where we came from amazingly concise and consistent?

Flame on....

[alarm rider]

Well, luckily for all of us, they were not "vegans" or some such nonsense.

[Doomonyou]

But analysis of tooth wear revealed that two-thirds of the animals were animals of prime age, the strongest, fastest, most nutritious and most difficult to capture members of the herd.

Trophy Hunters!

[Doomonyou]

Unnngh!

[lexington minuteman 1775]

Everyone knows they did not become extinct. They simply became Democrats!

[Pessimist]

But acdcording to a Geico insurance commercial I saw they're still around...

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Blam. Guess what I get to re-post now! Hoooraaaaay! ;')

There have been a couple of similar topics, so I'm just posting this, not pingin'.

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)

[SunkenCiv]

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]