The Neanderthal Problem

Paper Summary:

This paper examines a number of the dominant theories concerning the nature of the relationship between the ancestors of modern humans - early homo sapiens or "anatomically modern" (AM) populations - and the distinct species of the "homo" genus known as the Neanderthals. The paper then examines the fate of the Neanderthals. The paper focuses on the two main groups of theories: replacement theory and the interbreeding theory.

From the Paper:

"It should be noted, however, that there is as yet no definitive conclusion to the "Neanderthal problem" as scholars and researchers in a range of disciplines from archaeology to bio-genetics argue about the complex issues in this debate. It is clear that AM populations who comprise the ancestors of modern day humanity likely played some role in the extinction of the Neanderthals, given the coincidence of their settlements in the archaeological record, as well as similarities in their cultural technologies. This being said, however, the question of whether early humans replaced Neanderthals - who became extinct through natural processes or violence - or absorbed them through interbreeding, remains an open subject of debate to this day."

Sample of Sources Used:

• 2007. Neanderthal. Wikipedia. Electronic document, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthal, accessed July 6, 2007.
• Hayes, Jacqui. 2006 Humans and Neanderthals Interbred. Electronic document, http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/814, accessed July 6, 2007. Cosmos Online.
• Mellars, Paul. 1999. The Neanderthal Problem Continued. Current Anthropology 40: 341-364.
• Stringer, C.B. 1982. Toward a Solution to the Neanderthal Problem. Journal of Human Evolution 11: 431-438.

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