368
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 2:
Line 2: − + − Line 13:
Line 12: − + − + − + − + Line 55:
Line 54: + + + + + + + + + − <i>For the Young Earth Creationist's view on the Neanderthal click [[Homo neanderthalensis (Creationist's view)|here]].</i>
New page: right|thumb|300px|Modern reconstruction of Neanderthal men. The first fossil humanoid to be identified as such, and the best known, named after remains found in ...
The first fossil humanoid to be identified as such, and the best known, named after remains found in the [[Neanderthal]] valley in western [[Germany]] in 1856. ''Homo (sapiens) neanderthalensis'' is found throughout [[Europe]] and the [[Near East]] and also the remainder of the [[Old World]] in variant forms, during the late Middle and Upper Pleistocene circa 80,000 to 30,000 years ago. Within western Europe the remains are associated with the middle [[palaeolithic]] [[Mousterian]] stone tool industries that disappeared with the arrival of [[Cro-magnon]] man (early modern Humans.)
The first fossil humanoid to be identified as such, and the best known, named after remains found in the [[Neanderthal]] valley in western [[Germany]] in 1856. ''Homo (sapiens) neanderthalensis'' is found throughout [[Europe]] and the [[Near East]] and also the remainder of the [[Old World]] in variant forms, during the late Middle and Upper Pleistocene circa 80,000 to 30,000 years ago. Within western Europe the remains are associated with the middle [[palaeolithic]] [[Mousterian]] stone tool industries that disappeared with the arrival of [[Cro-magnon]] man (early modern Humans.)
Neanderthal Man is associated with the Middle Paleolithic Mousterian tool tradition <ref><i>Thieme, Hartmut "Lower to Midle Paleolithic Hunting Spears, and Lithic Tool Traditions." Archaeology 13, 2003</i></ref>.
==Anatomy==
==Anatomy==
<ref>Odd man out: Neanderthals and modern humans <i>British Archaeology</i> [http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba51/ba51feat.html]</ref>.
<ref>Odd man out: Neanderthals and modern humans <i>British Archaeology</i> [http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba51/ba51feat.html]</ref>.
Homo neanderthalensis also had an average brainsize of 1,450 cc with a range from 1,125cc to 1,750cc. Average modern humna brain size is 1,330cc, presumably the Neanderthal needed this extra brain mass to control his larger muscle mass.
Homo neanderthalensis also had an average brainsize of 1,450 cc with a range from 1,125cc to 1,750cc. Average modern human brain size is 1,330cc.
Many Neanderthal fossils have been recovered showing massive amounts of wear on the teeth, which to many physical anthropologists suggests that the teeth were regularly used for gripping skins during stretching and working.
Presumably Neanderthals needed this extra brain-mass to control there large muscle-mass.
<ref>The Dawn of Human Culture <i>Klein, Richard, New York, John Wiley and Sons, 2002.</i></ref>
Many Neanderthal fossils have been recovered showing massive amounts of wear on the teeth, which to many physical anthropologists suggests that the teeth were regularly used for gripping skins during stretching and working.
<ref>The Dawn of Human Culture <i>Richard Klein, New York, John Wiley and Sons, 2002</i></ref>
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.
==Creationist's views==
[[Young Earth Creationism|Young Earth Creationists]] believe that Neanderthals were fully human <ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v1/n2/worthy-ancestors</ref>, based on these factors:
* The brain size of neanderthalensis meets or exceeds that of humans today.
* They had the ability to speak, like humans.
* The skeletons of humans and neanderthalensis are very similar in bone count and types. The size differences between the two can be seen today in humans.
* DNA evidence shows neanderthalensis very similar to humans <ref>[http://www.icr.org/article/468/]</ref>, evolutionists believe this is to be expected for closely related species.
Creationists believe that Neanderthals were a splinter-group of humanity who adapted to survive the [[Ice Age]] after the [[flood|Great flood]]. Neanderthal type traits were best suited for the harsh cold. Malnutrition and longer life spans could cause features similar to those seen in Neanderthal skeletons <ref>Neanderthals are still human [http://www.icr.org/article/468/]</ref>.
[[Category:Primates]]
[[Category:Primates]]