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[[Image:Neanderthal_sites.gif|right|thumb|300px|The last refuges of the Neanderthal.]]

[[Image:Neanderthal_sites.gif|right|thumb|300px|The last refuges of the Neanderthal.]]

Neanderthal man developed from ''Homo erectus'', though the widespread distribution of intermediate form hinders an attempt to resolve any single geographical locality as the place of development. The fate of Neanderthals is equally hard or determine, we know they went extinct between 28,000 and 24,000 years ago  

Neanderthal man developed from ''Homo erectus'', though the widespread distribution of intermediate form hinders an attempt to resolve any single geographical locality as the place of development. The fate of Neanderthals is equally hard or determine, we know they went extinct between 28,000 and 24,000 years ago  

<ref>Neanderthals' 'last rock refuge' <i>BBC News</i> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5343266.stm]</ref>, but we don't know how or why: many theories have been presented, these are the most common ones:  

<ref>Neanderthals' 'last rock refuge' <i>BBC News</i> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5343266.stm]</ref>, but we don't know how or why: many theories have been presented, these are the most common ones:  

 

- Climate changes. <ref> Climate Change Pushed Neanderthal Into Extinction In Iberian Peninsula <i> GeneticArchaeology.com</i> [http://www.geneticarchaeology.com/Research/Climate_Change_Pushed_Neanderthal_Into_Extinction_In_Iberian_Peninsula.asp]</ref>

- Climate changes. <ref> Climate Change Pushed Neanderthal Into Extinction In Iberian Peninsula <i> GeneticArchaeology.com</i> [http://www.geneticarchaeology.com/Research/Climate_Change_Pushed_Neanderthal_Into_Extinction_In_Iberian_Peninsula.asp]</ref>

- Competition with humans over resources. <ref>Did Use of Free Trade Cause Neanderthal Extinction? <i>Newswise</i> [http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/510666/]</ref>

- Competition with humans over resources. <ref>Did Use of Free Trade Cause Neanderthal Extinction? <i>Newswise</i> [http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/510666/]</ref>

- Their reliance on meat. <ref>Meaty appetites may have caused Neanderthal extinction <i> Science & Spirit</i> [http://www.science-spirit.org/archive_cm_detail.php?new_id=317]</ref>

- Their reliance on meat. <ref>Meaty appetites may have caused Neanderthal extinction <i> Science & Spirit </i>[http://www.science-spirit.org/archive_cm_detail.php?new_id=317]</ref>

- Assimilation into the larger human population. <ref>The assimilation model, modern human origins in Europe and the extinction of Neanderthals <i>Fred H. Smith, Ivor Jankovic, Ivor Karavanic</i> [http://www.ffzg.hr/arheo/prap/the%20assimilation%20model.pdf]</ref>

- Assimilation into the larger human population. <ref>The assimilation model, modern human origins in Europe and the extinction of Neanderthals <i>Fred H. Smith, Ivor Jankovic, Ivor Karavanic</i> [http://www.ffzg.hr/arheo/prap/the%20assimilation%20model.pdf]</ref>

- An interspecies "Zeroth World War". <ref>Odd man out: Neanderthals and modern humans <i>British Archaelogy</i> [http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba51/ba51feat.html]</ref>

- An interspecies "Zeroth World War". <ref>Odd man out: Neanderthals and modern humans <i>British Archaelogy </i>[http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba51/ba51feat.html]</ref>

 

It is likely a combination of at least some of these factors led to the extinction of the Neanderthal.

It is likely a combination of at least some of these factors led to the extinction of the Neanderthals.

Neanderthal Man is not considered to be a direct ancestor of modern humans, but their remains are examples of [[transitional fossil]]s along a subsidiary branch, an evolutionary dead end.

Neanderthal Man is not considered to be a direct ancestor of modern humans, but their remains are examples of [[transitional fossil]]s along a subsidiary branch, an evolutionary dead end.