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The emerging fate of the Neandertals
April 24, 2007For 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.
Washington University in St. Louis
"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.
Washington University in St. Louis
Neandertal Current Events and Neandertal News RSSPrehistoric cold case shows hints of interspecies homicide
The wound that ultimately killed a Neandertal man between 50,000 and 75,000 years was most likely caused by a thrown spear, the kind modern humans used but Neandertals did not, according to Duke University-led research.
Draft version of the Neanderthal genome completed
The Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, in Leipzig, Germany, and the 454 Life Sciences Corporation, in Branford, Connecticut, will announce on 12 February during the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and at a simultaneous European press briefing that they have completed a first draft version of the Neandertal genome.
Neandertals, humans share key changes to 'language gene'
A new study published online on October 18th in Current Biology reveals that adaptive changes in a human gene involved in speech and language were shared by our closest extinct relatives, the Neandertals.
Birth rate, competition are major players in hominid extinctions
Modern human mothers are probably happy that they typically have one, maybe two babies at a time, but for early hominids, low birth numbers combined with competition often spelled extinction.
40,000-year-old skull shows both modern human and Neandertal traits
Humans continued to evolve significantly long after they were established in Europe, and interbred with Neandertals as they settled across the continent, according to new research published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) USA.
More human-Neandertal mixing evidence uncovered
A reexamination of ancient human bones from Romania reveals more evidence that humans and Neandertals interbred.
Modern humans, not Neandertals, may be evolution's 'odd man out'
Could it be that in the great evolutionary "family tree," it is we Modern Humans, not the brow-ridged, large-nosed Neandertals, who are the odd uncle out?
How modern were European Neanderthals?
Neandertals were much more like modern humans than had been previously thought, according to a re-examination of finds from one of the most famous palaeolithic sites in Europe by Bristol University archaeologist, Professor Joao Zilhao, and his French colleagues.
Redating of the latest Neandertals in Europe
Two Neantertal fossils excavated from Vindija Cave in Croatia in 1998, believed to be the last surviving Neandertals, may be 3,000-4,000 years older than originally thought.
DOE JGI sequences DNA from extinct cave bear
The genomic DNA sequencing of an extinct Pleistocene cave bear species-the kind of stuff once reserved for science fiction-has been logged into scientific literature thanks to investigators from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Genome Institute (JGI).
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The Neandertal Enigma by James Shreeve (Author) |
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Ancient Mysteries: The Fate of the Neandertals Starring: Artist Not Provided More than 70 thousand years ago, a clan of cave dwellers roamed the cliffs of Le Conte in Southwestern France. They were Neandertals, distant cousins to modern man. The caves, among other archaeological sites, have revealed much about Neandertals. But new disoveries have prompted more questions and mysteries. No other prehistoric group has received as much attention as the Neandertals. No other group carries such a weight of scientific and popular misconceptions or has its name associated with savagery, stupidity and animal strength. Fossils records place the last Neandertal on earth 30,000 years ago. Then they vanished. Or did they? There is more to Neandertals than their fossil remains. This hour will explore the Neandertals who, despite new and enticing clues, remain a people of... |
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Neandertal Cranium Replica by Skullduggery, Inc. This sculptured series consists of four full size species which represent what the general consensus of authorities in the field believe to be the only known links to Homo sapiens. The fifth in the series, Neandertal man, represents an often disputed link in the lineage to modern man. It is from casts, photographs, published diagrams and text describing these reconstructions that sculptor Larry Williams has developed this extraordinary Hominid Series for Skullduggery. |
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The Demise of the Neandertals: A Study on Neandertal Extinction by Robert Sandslett (Author) Neandertals have puzzled scientists since the firstNeandertal was discovered in Germany in 1856. For thepast 150 years, numerous hypotheses regarding thedemise of the Neandertals have been put forward. Thisbook presents the most important of these hypotheses,their development through the history of scientificresearch, and how they can be related to the generalresearch on human evolution. Why is this topic,despite the massive research undertaken the past 150years, still dominated by diametrically opposinghypotheses, all of which base their argumentation onthe same empirical record? How can the majorscientific advances the past decades, seen in fieldsuch as radiometric dating and DNA analysis, help usprogress even further in the quest for a higherunderstanding of how the fascinating... |
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Neulich im Neandertal (Atte Katte Nuwa) (Oberbayern-Version) Libero5 (Primary Contributor) |
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Ancient Mysteries: Fate of Neandertals [VHS] Starring: Ancient Mysteries |
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Close View of the Skull of a Neandertal Woman Photographic Poster Print by Kenneth Garrett, 48x64 by Art.com Art.com is the world's largest retailer of art prints, posters, photographs, and framed artwork. With our huge selection of over 400,000 prints, you'll easily find the perfect piece for your home, office, or classroom. Our art is printed on quality paper. When you order framed artwork, the piece is built by our team of in-house professionals. Visit our Amazon store today at www.amazon.com/artdotcom to find Special Offers and search for products based on 'Artist Name' and 'Subject Categories' such as Movie, Music, Vintage, TV, Children, Travel, Kitchen, Museum Art, Animals, Floral, Motivational, and Sports. Art.com is dedicated to providing you with high quality products and service by offering you 100% satisfaction guaranteed. We ship internationally to over 80 countries. Decorate your... |
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Reptilectric Revisitado Tracks: 1. Neandertal - Bufi 2. Nada - Sebastien Tellier 3. Poli - Schneider TM 4. Resiste - Colder 5. Sombras - Yamil Rezc 6. Luna - Natalia Lafourcade 7. Ultimos Dias - Panico 8. Reptilectric - Dramian & Luriel 9. Nothing - Nick McCarthy 10. Babilonia - Ryg 11. Fantasma - Mad Professor 12. No Hay Dolor - Vitamins For You Bonus Tracks: 13. Sombras - The Glimmers 14. Luna - Hello Seahorse! |
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Neandertals: A Prehistoric Puzzle (Discovery!) by Yvette La Pierre (Author) When the first Neandertal skeleton was discovered nearly 150 years ago, scientists presented the race as barely developed brutes. But recent findings indicate that Neandertals made complex tools, organized group hunts, cared for their sick and injured, and buried their dead. How advanced were they? How and why did they disappear? Did they live side-by-side with modern humans? |
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Nature Tube: Ice Age by Wild Republic Ice Age 10 piece set includes Neandertal cavemen and woman, woolly mammoth, smilodon (sabre-toothed tiger), a giant ground sloth, woolly rhino, camp fire, and cave painting. Figures stand up to 3 inches tall and made from slightly flexible phthalate-free plastic with painted details and names molded underneath. Reusable tube has zippered top and handle for stow-and-go fun. |
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