How Did Neanderthals Decline

This section gave detailed explanation of how humans have changed from primates and how we are able to survive. DNA is what affects what our bodies can handle compared to what our primates could handle. Mankind is twice split off from apes and the mutation of the human apoE gene is what helps us be able to eat meat. A second mutation appeared 220000 years ago which helped humans be able to break down fats and cholesterol. DNA and the mutation of our genes is what helped us survive. This section also talks about extinction, and how Jean Leopold Nicolas Frederic Cuvier,one of the greatest naturalists believed in it, despite many people not believing in the impermanence of a species. William Buckland, a biblical geologist who

Hominids are dependent on tools to survive their environments and in a similar way primates use tools to amplify their survival through the use of tools (Barham and Mitchell, 2008). Thus there is a direct correlation between environments and tool usage, furthermore there is an important commonality as extent primates such as apes inhabit the same environments and face the same circumstances as that in which early hominids existed in (Barham and Mitchell, 2008). These are only a limited selection of the numerous benefits to using extent primates as analogues to assist in understanding the developments of early hominids. As important as these advantages are it is essential to mention and examine the disadvantages of this analytical technique. 3.

“The largest population replacement of the last 13,000 years has been the one resulting from the recent Collison between the old world and the new world societies.” Beginning with a bold statement, this entire chapter can be summarized simply by understanding the differences between the “new” and “old” world. Starting with food production, the biggest difference between American and Eurasian food production was the ability to domesticate mammals. Eurasia began early with domesticating animals, for food, hides, wool, and as modes of transportation. Animals enhanced the ability to farm by drawing plows and providing manure.

Throughout the documentary “Decoding Neanderthals” there was a push of research to push the human view of Neanderthals. Over the year’s research showed that we coexisted with Neanderthals and out beat their species. Many believed that Neanderthals where like the stereotypical unintelligent and wild caveman. With new technology, enhanced research, and the exposing documentary “Decoding Neanderthals” pushed the boundaries of these past ideologies. Through this we have learned how intelligent, symbolic, and closely related this species is to homo-sapiens species. This research proved that the Neanderthal may have not became extent due to in ability to create weapons but, due to inter breading with humans

Neanderthals and modern humans coexisted for well over 100,000 years.  Then suddenly Homo neandertalensis began to die out and surrender the earth to Homo sapiens.  Paleontologists and anthropologists have entertained several possibilities to the causes of this event: interbreeding among Neanderthals and humans, competition for natural resources, and Darwin’s theory of “survival of the fittest.”  What the real cause has been has plagued scientists for years. Now, due to an international research team from Germany, those possibilities have been even further deduced, making it easier to pinpoint the exact reason Homo neandertalensis became extinct.

Several different hypotheses have been formulated to explain the extinction of Neanderthals, from climate changes to intoxication from cave-associated contaminants like smoke, from cannibalism to diseases (Herrera et al., 2009). It is only certain that Neanderthals disappeared from fossil record after the arrival of modern humans, around 40,000 years in Asia, and 10,000-15,000 years in Europe (Shreeve, 1995). Fossil evidence shows the presence of modern humans in Middle East from 130,000 to 75,000 years ago, in the same areas where Neanderthals retreated between 65,000 and 47,000 years ago (Mellars, 2004).

The next major step in human development is the Neanderthal. In Comparison to the other primates discussed this far, Neanderthals existed very recently and existed alongside Homo Sapiens during their time until they became extinct 40,000 years ago. Humans and Neanderthals share DNA that is 99.7% identical as compared to the next closest genetic relative the Chimpanzee(98.8%). Physically Neanderthals had short legs and long bodies (compared to humans). Neanderthals had a cranial capacity of 1,427 cubic centimeters on average,this is very close to the H. sapiens cranial capacity..

Humans are the most unique species on Earth. We have gained the ability to things never accomplished before on Earth. We can control our environment, domesticate other species, and more importantly, form complex connections and societies with one another. However, it is widely debated about how we evolved from simple ape-like foragers to the meat-eating, community-building species we are today. In this paper, we will be looking at three authors: Richard Wrangham, Pat Shipman, and Frans de Wall. Each of which approach this question from different directions.

Despite the plethora of differences that exist among modern day humans, one characteristic appears to be retained: man’s superiority complex. From notions of Homo sapiens sapiens serving as the apex of evolution, to the belief in imago dei and man’s high placement on the Great Chain of Being, anatomically modern humans (AMH) are most often viewed as the superior group when compared to those who came before. Within popular culture, this developmental “gap” is regularly capitalized on in the depiction of Homo sapiens neanderthalensis and their ascribed “inferiority.” Through a manipulation of an array of factors such as complexity of language, the mastering of fire, and an apparent reduction in overall savagery, AMH are frequently illustrated

There is evidence to suggest that Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens had coexisted for approximately 35-40,000 years, (Fagan 2010) from around 60,000 years ago to 25,000 years ago when they finally went extinct (Gibbon 2001). Anthropologists are still uncertain what the cause of their extinction was. This paper will analyze three main theories of Neanderthal extinction. The first theory is the competition theory, which claims that the Homo sapiens and Neanderthals had to compete for resources, ultimately leading to their demise. The second theory I will discuss is the climate change theory, which claims that Homo sapiens lived while Neanderthals died because they were better adapted to the climate. The last theory I will discuss is

Neanderthals were hunter-gatherers who moved across Europe with the advance and retreat of the Ice Age glaciers. Their total population probably never exceeded 100,000. From 180,000 to 130,000years ago large glaciers covered much of Europe and Neanderthal remains are scarce. After 130,000years ago, tool technology developed rapidly to become the classic Neanderthal technology called the

Once those groups grew large and food deficient, especially with the arrival of new waves of immigrants from Africa, such as the Homo sapiens who reached Europe some 43,000 years ago;

The competition of resources such as clothing, shelter, hunting strategies, and social networks influenced Neanderthals way of life. For example, modern humans had a better advantage to their technological advances in hunting, using less energy

Yuval Noah Harari’s, “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind”, give us a highly detailed description of the history of Homo Sapiens and how they came to take an evolutionary leap at a rate faster than any other living creature on Earth. At the forefront of Sapiens, is Harari’s idea about what made Homo Sapiens become so unimportant to rising up and becoming the most successful species on the planet. Throughout my analysis, I will bring up concepts and idea that Harari brings up throughout the novel.

The Neanderthal’s explanation as to why they are the last living of their species accurately describes the model of natural selection. Because the rest of their species died off due to disease, starvation and unfavorable phenotypes (size/strength), natural selection has selected for them to survive and pass on their traits.