[Burkeman1]

Neanderthals- as I understand it- were Homo Sapiens- just a different race. While they had physical traits that are strikingly different from modern humans they are still genetically the same and could mate with modern man today. I am of the belief that Neanderthals were violently wiped out by early Cro Magnum man or in limited cases inbred with them.

[NeonKnight]

There are many people with strong Neanderthal traits.

[Prodigal Son]

Neanderthals- as I understand it- were Homo Sapiens- just a different race.

The part that's always fascinated me is- they had bigger brains.

[blam]

"I am of the belief that Neanderthals were violently wiped out by early Cro Magnum man or in limited cases inbred with them."

I believe they were assimilated and that we are them. (No doubt there were many battles between these groups on the way though.)

[uglybiker]

I've had countless women call me a Neanderthal.

[Yeti]

Neanderthals were violently wiped out by early Cro Magnum man or in limited cases inbred with them.

I think you meant to say "interbred."

tee-hee.

[Junior]

The evidence so far is that Neanderthals were a different species and probably could not mate with Homo Sapiens.

[night reader]

I am of the belief that Neanderthals were violently wiped out by early Cro Magnum man or in limited cases inbred with them.

Nothing that dramatic. Their women were too ugly for the race to survive once the good lookers started showing up!

[Cronos]

They were not a different race, but something more distinct.

[FreedomCalls]

Neanderthals- as I understand it- were Homo Sapiens- just a different race. While they had physical traits that are strikingly different from modern humans they are still genetically the same and could mate with modern man today.

No, they were Homo neanderthalensis, a different species, but the same genus. It might be confusing in the current-day humans Homo sapiens are the only members of the Homo genus. Other great apes are:

Chimpanzee - Pan troglodytes
Bonobo - Pan paniscus
Eastern Gorilla - Gorilla gorilla
Western Gorilla - Gorilla beringei
Bornean Orangutan - Pongo pygmaeus
Sumatran Orangutan - Pongo abelii

Here's a taxonomy tree.