Difference between revisions of "Neanderthal"

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The first fossil humanoid to be identified as such, and the best known, named after remains found in the Neanderthal valley in western Germany in 1856. Homo neanderthalensis is found throughout Europe and the Near East and also the remainder of the Old World in variant forms, during the late Middle and Upper Pleistocene thought by some to be circa 80,000 to 30,000 years ago. Within western Europe the remains are associated with the middle Paleolithic Mousterian stone tool industries that disappeared with the arrival of Cro-magnon man (early modern Humans.)

Neanderthal Man is associated with the Middle Paleolithic Mousterian tool tradition ^[1].

Anatomy

Neanderthal (left) and human (right) skeletons, showing both the similarities and the differences between the species.

A Neanderthal was a fully erect biped of stocky build, with a long low skull, prominent brow ridges and occiputs, and a jutting face. Neanderthals appear on average more muscular than humans and lacked a chin, they were social creatures living in small tribes. Neanderthals also possessed the skull features required for speech ^[2]. The popular impression of him as a stooping brute is incorrect and derives from the original poor reconstruction in the Neanderthal valley. It has also been suggested that the first individual found suffered from vitamin D deficiency (rickets) or syphilis. Whether Neanderthals did interbreed, or if this was even possible remains unknown, so far the small amounts of Neanderthal DNA found do not suggest a recent genetic link between the species ^[3].

Homo neanderthalensis also had an average brainsize of 1,450 cc with a range from 1,125cc to 1,750cc. Average human brain size now is about 1,330cc. Reseachers speculate Neanderthals needed this extra brain-mass to control there large muscle-mass. Many Neanderthal fossils have been recovered showing massive amounts of wear on the teeth, which to many physical anthropologists suggests that the teeth were regularly used for gripping skins during stretching and working. ^[4]

Society

Evidence suggests Neanderthals may have been about as intelligent as an average human, they were social creatures living in small tribes, and that Neanderthal tribes interacted less with each other than human tribes did.

Neanderthals had the ability to make fire, for food they relied on hunting, and were probably strictly carnivorous ^[5]. They never invented projectile weapons but relied on spears with limited range, even when facing large animals, their robust bodies enabled them to use this hunting style that was considered far too dangerous by humans. A common hunting technique was to drive prey animals off a cliff, or corner them prey and finish them of with spears, much like today's Pygmees hunt elephants.

Evidence of care for the elderly and the sick has been found ^[6], they also used medicinal plants, made clothes out of animal skins and used stone tools. Neanderthals performed elaborate burying rituals.^[7]. Interestingly archaeologists have never found Neanderthal cave drawings, although handcrafted art has been found ^[8].

History

The last refuges of the Neanderthals.

Neanderthal man is thought to have developed from Homo erectus, though the widespread distribution of an evolutionary "intermediate form" hinders an attempt to resolve any single geographical locality as the place of development. The fate of Neanderthals is equally hard or determine, some scientists think they went extinct between 28,000 and 24,000 years ago ^[9], but they can't explain how or why: many theories have been presented, these are the most common ones:

- Climate changes. ^[10]

- Competition with humans over resources. ^[11]

- Their reliance on meat. ^[12]

- Assimilation into the larger human population. ^[13]

- An interspecies "Zeroth World War". ^[14]

Some postulate it is likely a combination of at least some of these factors led to the extinction of the Neanderthals.

Neanderthal Man is not considered to be a direct ancestor of modern humans by evolutionists.

Creationist's views

Young Earth Creationists do not believe Neanderthals were a now extinct prehistoric sentient species, but believe that Neanderthals were fully human ^[15], based on these factors:

• The brain size of neanderthalensis meets or exceeds that of humans today.
• They had the ability to speak, like humans.
• The skeletons of humans and neanderthalensis are very similar in bone count and types. The size differences between the two can be seen today in humans.
• DNA evidence shows neanderthalensis very similar to humans ^[16], evolutionists believe this proves a close relationship, creationists believe it proves Neanderthals were fullblooded humans.

Creationists believe that Neanderthals were a splinter-group of humanity who adapted to survive the Ice Age after the Great flood. Neanderthal type traits were best suited for the harsh cold. Malnutrition and longer life spans could cause features similar to those seen in Neanderthal skeletons ^[17].

For these reasons creationists call neanderthals "Homo sapiens neanderthalensis", classifying them as a human subspecies.

References

1. ↑ Thieme, Hartmut "Lower to Midle Paleolithic Hunting Spears, and Lithic Tool Traditions." Archaeology 13, 2003
2. ↑ Neanderthal Myths Neanderthal, Channel 4 [1]
3. ↑ Odd man out: Neanderthals and modern humans British Archaeology [2]
4. ↑ The Dawn of Human Culture Richard Klein, New York, John Wiley and Sons, 2002
5. ↑ Living like a Neanderthal Neanderthal, Channel 4 [3]
6. ↑ Neanderthals on Trial University of Minnesota, Duluth [4]
7. ↑ Early Man Andy Simmons [5]
8. ↑ Neanderthal 'face' found in Loire BBC News [6]
9. ↑ Neanderthals' 'last rock refuge' BBC News [7]
10. ↑ Climate Change Pushed Neanderthal Into Extinction In Iberian Peninsula GeneticArchaeology.com [8]
11. ↑ Did Use of Free Trade Cause Neanderthal Extinction? Newswise [9]
12. ↑ Meaty appetites may have caused Neanderthal extinction Science & Spirit [10]
13. ↑ The assimilation model, modern human origins in Europe and the extinction of Neanderthals Fred H. Smith, Ivor Jankovic, Ivor Karavanic [11]
14. ↑ Odd man out: Neanderthals and modern humans British Archaeology [12]
15. ↑ http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v1/n2/worthy-ancestors
16. ↑ [13]
17. ↑ Neanderthals are still human [14]