Who Were the Neanderthals, and What Caused Their Extinction - Essay Example

? s School Neanderthals are the early hominids who have existed on the planet earth about 250,000 years to 300,000 years ago, and are geographically believed to be located in Eurasia, somewhere near Western Europe and the Near East (Schmit 2003). Moreover, the sudden extinction of these species though still remains a mystery, but according to the anthropological studies it owes much to various factors which will be discussed in detail in this paper. Also, These Neanderthals are also genetically associated with the “Anatomically Modern Humans (AMH)” by some anthropologists based on genetic and cultural evidence, while there is still an ongoing debate about the conformity of the proposition. Anatomically modern humans are the most immediate ancestors of the humans, and possibilities of interbreeding amongst the species are still being investigated. However, scientific study of genetics indicates that humans and Neanderthals have only been found to have ancestral connections about 550,000 years ago. However studying evolution from a cultural perspective indicates a strong sense of connection between early humans and the Neanderthals. These species, the Neanderthals were first discovered in 1829. In 1856, when Neanderthal specimen was found in a cave in Germany the scientists were amazed at the discovery as it was very unique and distinctive from other fossils previously been found, as the skull was oval in shape with thick and strong bones along with a retreating forehead (Delson 2006). The name Homo Neanderthals was suggested to these unknown species by the geologist William King in 1864 when these were found in the Neander valley in Germany (Jordan 1999). However, after a lot of research the scientists were able to discover the fact that the species discovered in 1829 were the same as these found later. Neanderthals had a strong body built with a heavy structure and a shorter height, ideal to absorb more heat so that they can survive in cold climates. Sexual dimorphism between both genders was comparatively unclear. To shed light on the causes of extinction associated with the Neanderthals, it is first crucial to study their modes of survival and their lifestyles. These species relied on the plants to acquire nutrition for their survival. However, due to the colder climates that they had to face, possibilities are that the plant supplies would have adequately dropped during the winters. Due to this factor they had to diversify their food sources including meat in their diet to fulfill their nutritious requirements (Shipmen 2008). Anthropological remains like sharpened tools for cutting and ripping away meat preys indicate that these species were seasonal meat hunters. Moreover, when scientists studied the plaque over the teeth of the remains, they even found out that these species incorporates mollusks, sharks and other marine species as their diets. Amongst other anthropological evidences, a flake tool sophisticated in its built was also found which was made after breaking off the stones from the surfaces, though it wasn’t as complex as those tools found amongst other ancestral species associated with humans. Moreover, having studied the anatomy of their bodies, it was concluded that their arms were rather asymmetric which are indicative of the fact that they used thrusting techniques to capture preys, which means that they utilized larger animals for consumption. Along with these remains, other significant discoveries were the needle like tools which can be used for sewing garments to wear. Moreover, Neanderthals are also found to have used fire for various purposes. Thorough analysis of the locales draws attention towards shallow pits along with other even shallower grave like structures. This indicates that these people used to bury the dead into graves and hold funerals to carry these events. The settings also reflect that these species used to live in a nuclear family setup while some instances indicate social gatherings and events to be a part of their lives as well. The language they used to communicate with is still unknown, however they have a large enough brain with a functional vocal area thus they definitely used language as a mode of interaction. As for their life expectancy, they are estimate to live for as long as thirty years, in most cases even less than that. Having explored their way of lives, it would be easier to relate the causes of extinction. The most valid and logically sound arguments are drawn by Bent Sorensen (2011) who has utilized demographic data to propose causes for the extinction of Neanderthals. He related demography with the fertility and the death rates to propose a model regarding population development. The main causes he argues behind the extinction of Neanderthals include highly adverse climatic changes, glacialization, violence inflicted by the modern humans, shortage of food supplies, accidents, intoxication, genetic reasons, spread of diseases or natural disasters. Further studies in the area strengthen his arguments; however, there is no conformity in this context by most of the anthropologists who base their arguments on probability. The model suggests that data indicates that the population of these species wasn’t a very large one, thus chances of food shortage seems to be low. Even in the most adverse climatic conditions, the most that could happen was the migration of the prey species. However, the Neanderthals were also nomadic thus they can follow suit to find prey. The climate change however, may be considered as factor it can affect the youngest of the population along with the most eldest one, since these are found to have the weakest immune systems. However, die to small population endemics may also not be a possibility as the spreading rate will be quite low. Considering natural disasters as the main causes is however a valid proposition, as the European locales where these species were found have the possibilities of having erupted volcanoes resulting in extinction. Also, violence can be a contributing factor as studies suggest that they were highly barbaric creatures thus they might have killed each other owing to extinction. The mysterious part however is the study of evolution of Neanderthals in relation to the extinctions. Tracking down the background behind the evolution, Neanderthals have found to be related with the archaic homosapiens who are the earliest of the ancestors of the modern humans too. Neanderthals have their roots in Africa from where their ancestors migrated towards Europe where these species were bred (Tatterstol 1995). They have also lived with the anatomically modern humans for years, however, these got extinct all of a sudden while modern humans continued to further breed. This part carries an element of mystery as it further generates discussion about whether or not they bred with these modern humans or not. Genetic flow in this context would be significant as that would indicate that humans have direct evolutionary association with these Neanderthals. For this reason, it is now important to study the genetics of the Neanderthals to track their evolutionary roots to see whether or not they have influenced the homo sapiens genetically or not. Various studies have come up with different conclusions generating a rigorous debate amongst the anthropological community, however with the latest genotype report on the Neanderthals it has become easier to draw more logical conclusions. The gaps of knowledge left behind by the genetic contributions in this regard can further be filled by the cultural debates in this context. Analyzing the culture via social lives of these species form different perspectives can prove to be helpful in generating valid conclusions on the debate. The recent scholarship over this issue has now developed a consensus that there is no evidence regarding interbreeding amongst the Neanderthals and the Anatomically Modern Humans, which can be confirmed by analyzed various sources. Klein (2003) is of the view that the modern humans have replaced the Neanderthals while there are no evidences found regarding any kind of genetic exchange between the species. For this reason, the morphology as well as the paleontology needs to be traced to confirm the assumption, or negate it for that matter. All kinds of literature need to be advanced for this purpose to produce bias free knowledge. Firstly, the most debated part of the anatomy of the Neanderthals is their brain, which is considerably large. This was the sole reason why the scholarship agreed upon including them amongst their species at the first place. However, at the same time many differences can also be pointed out amongst the skull structure of Neanderthals and the Homo sapiens. For instance, the cranium containing the brain is quite different, also the structure of cheek bones, jaws and other bones of the face are also quite different. Thus based on these observations, Ian and Jeffrey conclude that the morphology of the Neanderthals if compared with the Homo sapiens is completely distinct and diverging. If the affect of the morphology of these species is to be traced upon the Homo sapiens, it is fair to assume that there is no affect between the two, and considering this observation both should be considered as entirely different species. Though Ian and Jeffrey acknowledge the fact that humans and Neanderthals have had the same African ancestors as there is no second opinion about that but both species have had a separate evolution since a very long time. However, one of the nasal fossa has found to be similar to that of humans but even this proposition has been rejected by some medical observers (R. Fransiscus). Moreover, further confirmations owe much to the mtDNA report of the 378kb sequencing, which also brings the anthropologists closer to the conclusion that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens are distinct species with no effect upon each other. However, at the same time Milford also comments on the same mitochondria report and reflects that the data is insignificant to make such a conclusion as the topology generated via this report in not enough of the evidence. He is of the view that in the passage of the genetic knowledge over generations the selection may have been in such a way that the gene flow from Neanderthals may have been ignored. However, this is too weak of an argument since random selection still leaves the chance for the survival of a variety of genes. Also, to further validate the never ending debate anthropologists rely of the language to dictate the most valid propositions. Though, as mentioned above the brain contains some of the elements indicating that language was the source of interaction, which can be a sign indicating evolution of Homo sapiens from Neanderthals. However, as a general pattern the evolution is traced by tracing the vowel development which can be identified by the structure of the vocal tract. Though Homo sapiens are capable of generating vowels, however this aspect lacks amongst the Neanderthals, further strengthening the argument that these species have no affect on the Homo sapiens. However, Milford again points out at the discovery of the FOXP2 gene which is rather a mutated one, but shows evidence of vowel development. However, scientists against negate the proposition arguing that this gene is also found in Chimpanzees however they are incapable of generating vowel sounds. Thus all elements involved in conducting a scientific study for this matter indicate that Neanderthals are distinct and separate species with no effect or association with Homo sapiens for reasons. All the aspects including the anatomy, morphology, gene information, even the language observation, none of these show any signs of evolutionary lines connecting Homo sapiens with Neanderthals in any way (Green 2010). This is the reason why the scholarship over this issue has agreed upon the proposition that both the species are not connected in any way. However, anthropologists relying on cultural data along with the scientific knowledge also tend to form opinions based on the behavioral patterns. Interestingly, these patterns speak a very different language. This is the reason why this debate has generated much debate especially in the anthropological arena since these species tend to exhibit behavioral patterns much similar to the modern humans. However, scientific knowledge completely clashed with the social and the cultural explanations. For this reason, the debate will be left incomplete without taking this perspective into account. Erik Trinkuas presents a very impressive account of the hard times that the Neanderthals went through, and relates them with the other closer ancestors of the Homo sapiens. To elaborate further on the discussion posed by Erik, it is crucial to understand that archeological knowledge also fuels the discussion about whether or not Neanderthals are related with Homo Sapiens or not. For this reason, the hard lives have been rigorously analyzed, indicating patterns similar to that of modern day humans. Violence and barbarism has been a primary trait amongst the human ancestors, even the closest of them as human has always been a social animal. The fossil fuels themselves speak for the violent behavioral patterns exhibited during the era. The behavioral patterns even though violent in nature should still follow the same track as by other closer ancestors. These patterns imply that a heavy object should be used to blow at the other person to cause a serious injury. The patterns indicating how the breakage of the fossils took place, as analyzed by experts, have been confirmed to take place by being hit by a heavy object similar to that of the modern human ancestors. At the same time, the opposing scholarship argue that the bones are millions of years old which means that they have stayed in the lower layers of soil for years. So chances are that they may be broke by sedimentary rocks or by some other natural ways. However, if this would have been the case, the wounds wouldn’t have been that apparent, which confirms that the injury wasn’t an accident. The position of the wounds further validates the data. All other fossils found from Europe indicate almost the same signs. Thus, by this explanation the physical traits should be ignored in the light of behavioral data which is a strong source in this context. Along with the violent behavior, other cultural indicators also seem to show affects in the modern human on a cultural level. For instance, social interaction and a family life have always been the trait of modern day humans. Even now, the trend for nuclear families is apparent in some areas, and if the Neanderthals are found to exhibit same patterns it is impossible to ignore the fact that there is no connection. If the social interactions and the family life is traced to date, a clear connection can be drawn and it can be assumed that modern day humans have borrowed these family traditions back from the Neanderthal species. Also, if they tend to interact it is natural to believe that they used language as a source of communication too, as with vague symbols and sounds, a complicated system of social interaction can`t be carved out. Similarly, the tradition of burials is also a strong indicator that the Homo sapiens have taken this concept back from the Neanderthals, as an archeological survey of those sites still contain the burial sites. Also, they were so considerate of the significance of the space factor that they had small pits to bury children and large ones to bury others. All of them would have been of the same size, but this indicates that size was a significant factor which modern human might have learnt from them. Death is an important ritual for all the European ancestors, so chances are that they have interbred with the modern day humans otherwise such patterns would not have been there. Also, it can`t be assumed that these species lacked intellect as they even came up with some of the sophisticated tools to carry out activities. Without an IQ, even at the slightest level, this wouldn’t have been possible. Thus, it may be assumed in this context that the intellect also started developing back from the ancestors. Also, using a language and carrying out rituals is also indicative of some level of an intellect, however this proposition is still debatable. However, the tools aren’t even close to the complicated ones owned by the European ancestors of Homo sapiens thus this premise can again be challenged. Thus, both the scientific knowledge relating genes and study of anatomy and morphology contradict the knowledge generated via culture and social lives of Neanderthals. Though the medical and biologic community is satisfied believing that there is no evidence supporting association of Neanderthals with the Homo sapiens and some of the anthropologists also support this view. However, the behavioral patterns show an entirely different direction. It is quite confusing to give a final conclusion, as there might still be a lack in the knowledge of either party. However, it still makes sense to follow the direction which has more worth. Therefore, while keeping the factor of probability in mind, unless any more data comes in it is fair to assume that the Neanderthals haven’t affected the Homo sapiens in any way. Neanderthals were thus ancient ancestors of modern human and the ancestry can be traced back to about 500,000 years. However, these species used to exist about 250,000 years from now. However, 10,000 years from now they got extinct. However, the strange part being that they even lived with the anatomically modern humans for some years, however they didn’t go extinct. The reasons of extinction are not clearly known up till now, however natural disasters or violent behavior by the modern humans tend to give the most valid explanations. Also, to trace the evolutionary line morphology, anatomy and genetic makeup has been studied which indicates that there is no connection found between the modern day humans and the Neanderthals. However, while analyzing the behavioral patterns some similarities can be drawn. For instance, the patterns of violent behaviors are the same as the modern human ancestors. Also, various cultural values are also found to be the same. 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