The Differences Between Neanderthals and Modern Human Beings

The Neanderthals seem to have largely disappeared around 25,000 years ago, but the precise explanation for their disappearance remains something of a mystery. A number of different theories have emerged, some mutually exclusive, some not, but all of them draw upon substantial archeological, anthropological, and biological evidence. Researchers have variously proposed that Neanderthals were the victims of genocide at the hands of modern humans, died out due to some kind of plague or epidemic, or went extinct because they could not cope with climatic shifts. While none of these can be conclusively proven or disproven, one can at least begin to assign certain degrees of likelihood to each hypothesis. Upon examining a variety of these theories regarding the extinction of the Neanderthals, it becomes clear that in all likelihood, the Neanderthals disappeared not due to any single cause, but rather from susceptibility to climate change coupled with conflict, disease, and interbreeding. To begin this study, it will be useful to start with a brief discussion of the major differences between Neanderthals and modern humans, because as will be seen, these differences may have a played a key role in their eventual extinction. Neanderthals were not the brutish, ape-like creatures they are often depicted as in popular media, but they did have some noticeable anatomical differences from modern humans. In general they were stockier with shorter, more powerful limbs, but these limbsShow MoreRelatedThe Extinction Of The Neanderthals1742 Words   |  7 Pagesof the coexistence and the potential interaction between the last Neanderthal and the earliest intrusive populations of anatomically modern humans in Europe has been a topic of debate. The extinction of the Neanderthals occurred during the latter part of the last glaciation which was characterized by a rapidly changing climate, cold conditions and corresponding vegetation and faunal turnover. However, it coincided with the e xpansion of modern humans out of Africa during the Late Pleistocene. ThusRead More Neanderthals Essay1492 Words   |  6 Pages Were Neanderthals the same as modern humans, or were they an entirely different species? This is a major topic of debate among Anthropologists, and many people strongly argue each view, backing their opinion with evidence from physical remains and inferred ideas about behavior. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The proponents of the separate species hypothesis believe that they had a common ancestor, but Neanderthals and modern humans were separate species. 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