> It was left unstated how "Such language skill and technological know-how
> doesn't fit with evolutionary ideas about Neandertals". That is a very
> broad assertion which isn't explained. Do the archaeologists or
> anthropologists themselves acknowledge this as a piece of data which
> contradicts previously held ideas? Or is this statement simply wishful
> thinking?
>
Neanderthals and technology would not contradict evolution,
but there are differing opinions about how close to the
modern human the Neanderthals are even amongst anthropologists.
Currently, analysis of mtDNA supports them being rather distant.
Nevertheless, mtDNA may not be telling the whole story.
My own opinion is that they were not so different. There
is even some hint that the blond/red hair and blue eyes are
a remnant of the Neanderthals in the European population.
For the record, my ancestors are mostly English and Scotish.
At any rate, if Neanderthals were intelligent and capable
of doing everything a modern human can do, it does not contradict
evolution in any way. It only says something about the
history of fossil man.
Wayne
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Received on Tue Aug 8 10:13:41 2006
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