Anthropology of Neandrethals
Uploaded by sls465 on Apr 18, 2007
Anthropology of Neandrethals
Personally, I think that I am a Neanderthal. Of course, we all know that that is almost impossible. However, what if there is just the smallest possibility? Neanderthal man supposedly became extinct almost 30,000 years ago, yet the possibility exist that Neanderthal man may be living among us. The anthropological record is full of similar being with parallel lines of evolution. In many respects, the ancestors of man have, at one point, lived with at least one other evolutionary member. Having that in mind, why would it not be possibly for Neanderthals to still co-habitat with modern man at this age in time?
One morning almost 300,000 years ago, the sun arose to a new epic in earth’s history. The hominids that we would learn to call Neanderthal began to take steeps on the world. At first, just the sight of these strong robust beings must have struck fear into the heart of those that they preyed upon. Usually not standing over five feet 5 inches at 185 pounds (Encarta 1). These hominoids were physically powerful and with the current archeological evidence powerful in mind. Having a brain somewhat larger than modern humans do, many researchers are theorizing that Neanderthals had a complex social structure. Yet, with their strong body and mind they some how fell of the face of the earth. Alternatively, could it be that they simply adapted to a new environment, improvised ways to live in that new environment and eventually over came adversity.
The bodies of Neanderthals were perfectly adapted the Upper Pleistocene. In an era where ice ruled, the world size really mattered. Being short in stature insured that Neanderthals were able to stay quite comfortably warm. Along with their extremely strong physic, they became perfectly adapted to the world they lived in. They were able to hunt some of the largest mammals that the world had to offer. That is were it is believed that the Neanderthal social structure may have evolved.
In a world where prey animals such as the Irish elk stood 7 feet tall at the shoulder with antlers that stretched for 12 feet, Neanderthals must have had to hunt in groups. It is possible that the groups may have been composed of family groups, yet it is thought that they eventually formed small tribes. As the old saying goes “There is safety in...