sheila j

I was watching the new Neaderthal series with my daughter today and they
made some interesting statements....

They said that 35000 years ago neaderthal's co-existed with Cro-Magnum
man. I know absolutely nothing about this subject, but I was wondering
if the two groups ever mixed for survival? What about as a method to
avoid in-breeding?

Does anyone know? Or can recommend a book/site that would answer these
questions for me?


Thank you,
Sheila

martin reboul

There is still much debate about this I believe, as there is a school of thought
that claims the Neanderthals didn't die out entirely, but interbred with
Cro-Magnons to some extent, of which evidence can be found within the population
today. Apparently many of us are born with certain Neanderthal characteristics,
such as unusual skull shape, shortened limbs and other features (one being having
a second toe longer than the big toe IIRC?). Intelligence is not affected, though
I have heard that 'neanderthal' types have a tendency to be psychic - perhaps a
can of worms best avoided!.
If any anthropologist doubts the survival of Neanderthals, I would point them to a
couple of local pubs which are heavily populated by splendid examples (usually in
the Public Bar), who even seem to have retained a strange, grunting speech
unintelligible to most modern Homo-Sapiens.
Cheers
Martin

sheila j

Or perhaps they just evolved into rugby players?

martin reboul

Unfortunately they tend to be rather short in stature, not particularly quick and
their heavy brows are prone to getting cut in the scrum.
Cheers
Martin

newarchaeology

This is still a hotly debated topic
There are some caves where both Neanderthals and humans have lived in the
past. Wether they lived in them at exactly the same time is still up in the
air.

Chris

zolota

Does that include Seppo?

Z

martin reboul

There is a lot of shouting sometimes, but I think he drinks in a pub (assuming any
pub allows him in) a good few thousand miles from here, on the other side of the
planet - I'm glad to say.
Cheers
Martin

gblack

The Aussies get used to locals with a few kangaroos loose in the top
paddock so long as they drink in the city pubs

seppo renfors

Correct. The Cro-Magnum is the same as Homo Sapien Archaic - almost modern man.

There was not inter-species breeding, I presume that is what you
meant. DNA research has established that. While they did exist
simultaneously for a (relatively) short period, they are not know to
have mixed even for survival.


--
SIR - Philosopher unauthorised
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The one who is educated from the wrong books is not educated, he is
misled.
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