I watched a program last night on the ABC about Neanderthals. I've read a few books on the enigma of why they disappeared - especially since they were physically better evolved that Homo Sapiens to live in the colder conditions in Europe.
Basically there are two camps on this one. Most think that Homo Sapiens migrated out of Africa and when they reached Europe, killed off Neanderthal man. There is another line of thought that they were assimilated into one species - us - by interbreeding.
There is some DNA research being undertaken at the moment to try and shed some light on the mystery. Interested to know if anyone has any thoughts on this.

the assimilation theory seems most likely to me at least it would explain some of my inlaws :-)

Well said Examinator, we agree for once, about your inlaws.

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and mine.

Thanks for the giggle.

Poirot, I think that it is almost definitely both a case of Homo sapiens killing off or displacing Homo neanderthalensis AND interbreeding with them.

Back in those brutish days, it would have been highly unlikely that they could have coexisted in harmony. As we have witnessed with suppressed and displaced indigenous peoples around the world, there is always a degree of interbreeding. But in the modern world, many suppressed peoples survive and are fostered to some extent by their invaders, whereas in prehistoric times the stronger people would have just continued to displace the weaker until they were gone, with the absorption of their genes to a small extent.

whereas in prehistoric times the stronger people would have just continued to displace the weaker until they were gone, with the absorption of their genes to a small extent.

So perhaps this is why we have such a population problem, both present, and looming, as today, we care for the 'homeless druggies', we care for many people who can't afford to eat or rent a house, yet they gamble every cent away. Often this is welfare money as many simply won't work.

Now I am not one to be 'squashing the weak', as genuine cases deserve our support, however, I see little gain in supporting those who refuse to help themselves.

As Ludwig says, Perhaps only the strongest of the Neanderthals survived to interbread with Homo Sapiens, while the weak were discarded and left to fend for themselves and, eventually died out.

Lets face it, I seriously doubt that anyone not pulling their weight back then would have been supported.

Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned here for us.

The more we discover about Neanderthals, the more we realise how highly intelligent they were.

In an outright battle, given Neanderthal strength, physique and intelligence, my money would be on the Neanderthals to win. Therefore assimilation is the most likely explanation, also explains some people's physical appearance - hirsute bodies, squat stocky build etc.