Next time a feminist calls you a neanderthal...

**Marx** · 26th-August-2008

Show her this article...

Stone me – he's smart, he's tough and he's equal to any Homo sapiens

TO MANY, the word Neanderthal conjures up an image of a knuckle-dragging, dim-witted caveman of inferior intellect to the modern human.

However, this is an impression that should be expelled from our minds, according to scientists who have revealed important new research on the intelligence of our ancient cousins.

They have found that, far from being stupid, Homo neanderthalensis were actually superior in some ways to Homo sapiens.

And they suggest that, rather than being a term of abuse, referring to someone as a "Neanderthal" should now be considered a compliment.

The study, in the Journal of Human Evolution, examined the ways that modern humans and Neanderthals used tools – one of the key indicators researchers use to understand primitive behaviour.

And the findings dash the assumption, held for the past 60 years, that modern humans used superior tools to Neanderthals.

The development of blades by Homo sapiens after they invaded Europe from Africa 40,000 years ago, has traditionally been considered a dramatic technological advance, which eventually eradicated our Stone Age cousins.

It was a theory that backed up the idea that modern humans used a superior intellect to drive Neanderthals to extinction about 30,000 years ago.

However, research now shows the wide flint tools used by Homo neanderthalensis were just as efficient as the narrower blades used by Homo sapiens.

In fact, when the scientists re-created both kinds of tool and tested their cutting ability and resilience, and the rate at which they could be manufactured, they found that in some respects the tools used by Neanderthals were actually more efficient.

Professor Dan Adler at the University of Connecticut, an anthropologist who previously showed Neanderthals were better hunters than Homo sapiens, said this was the latest evidence disputing the "racist assumption" that they were an inferior species.

He added: "It still doesn't seem to have sunk in that Neanderthals were particular savvy and dangerous."

Meanwhile, lead author of the report Metin Eren, from the University of Exeter, said

: "Homo neanderthalensis is a species that lasted in Ice Age Europe for hundreds of thousands of years.

"These guys were tough. There's evidence that they could take down Ice Age mammals almost single handedly.

"They lasted longer than us evolutionarily and they had larger brains than us. If anything, if you call someone a Neanderthal it should be a compliment."

Studies have already suggested that Neanderthals, shown by DNA to be a different species to humans, were also just as advanced in communication skills and hunting.

"There are many different pillars that have been holding up this idea that Neanderthals are stupider than our own species," said Mr Eren. "These have one by one been falling down. When we think of Neanderthals, we need to stop thinking in terms of 'stupid' or 'less advanced' and more in terms of 'different'. "

Now new reasons must be found to explain why Neanderthals vanished from Europe 28,000 years ago.

Mr Eren believes the most likely explanation is that Homo sapiens were simply able to breed more quickly.

"It's not that we were better than them," he said. "It's just that there were more of us."

**nivek** · 26th-August-2008

History seems to be repeating its self.

**shaazam** · 27th-August-2008

"""Now new reasons must be found to explain why Neanderthals vanished from Europe 28,000 years ago."""

but what if their wimin looked like Andrea Dworkin

the neandertal man may have decided to meander rather than smell her fetid breath

**brian44** · 27th-August-2008

Quote from shaazam

"""Now new reasons must be found to explain why Neanderthals vanished from Europe 28,000 years ago."""

That's easy, we brought our women over and it drove them all to suicide.

**Percy** · 27th-August-2008

There's evidence that they could take down Ice Age mammals almost single handedly.

It would probably stand up in a Family Court but frankly it is of the same order of friggin' crap claim one hears there.

Don't you get heartily sick and tired of University dweebs who puff their obscure subjects up with totally outlandish claims for which the only evidence consists of two square friggin' millimetres of old bone. The camera pans in to a pair of glasses above a two-hairs under the lower lip excuse for a beard as Dr Ulumsham Dvorb shows a tiny mark under a microscope.

"Unt ziz ist der schpear-mark from der Herr Neanderthal's 'veaponofchoise', ze 'flintkrautonderschtick' mitt vich he kilt de mammoth, ya? Und he vas on his jac hones ven he did it, becuz ve know zat Frau Neanderthal vas at ze cave eating ze cabbage fricasse at ze time."

**Chris Key** · 27th-August-2008

A few years ago I read many articles about the Neanderthals. The reason I did so is because I wanted to find proof that they assimilated with Homo Sapiens. During the process, I found out information about their vast intelligent. For example, some of the weapons they created were superior in design to the ones used by the Homo Sapiens found during their era. Another thing I found is Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens traded weaponry.

The Neanderthals cared for the ill, too. They mourned the death of friends and family by burying them. Their voices were higher in pitch than those found among us Homo Sapiens.

The most interesting thing I found is a possible genetic trace between Neanderthals and Caucasians. According to the article I was reading, the Neanderthals possessed a foramen in their jaws that is also found in some Caucasians. There is no evolutionary reason for Caucasians to have it, thus meaning the most likely reason they have it is through assimilation with the Neanderthals. When one considers the fact Neanderthal remains indicate the more primitive ones had more prominent brow ridges than the narrow ones, it makes sense to think they assimilated with Caucasians.

Here are some of the articles I have read about them.

Neanderthal mitochondrial DNA
The Neanderthal theory of autism, Asperger and ADHD
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | The icy truth behind Neanderthals
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Late Neanderthals 'more like us'
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Neanderthals were 'adults by 15'
Neanderthals were just like us - violent but caring: researchers

PS. I added all of these articles to Darren Blacksmith's Cool Tools 4 Men Forum a few years ago.

**brian44** · 27th-August-2008

Quote from Chris Key

A few years ago I read many articles about the Neanderthals. The reason I did so is because I wanted to find proof that they assimilated with Homo Sapiens. During the process, I found out information about their vast intelligent. For example, some of the weapons they created were superior in design to the ones used by the Homo Sapiens found during their era. Another thing I found is Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens traded weaponry.

The Neanderthals cared for the ill, too. They mourned the death of friends and family by burying them. Their voices were higher in pitch than those found among us Homo Sapiens.

The most interesting thing I found is a possible genetic trace between Neanderthals and Caucasians. According to the article I was reading, the Neanderthals possessed a foramen in their jaws that is also found in some Caucasians. There is no evolutionary reason for Caucasians to have it, thus meaning the most likely reason they have it is through assimilation with the Neanderthals. When one considers the fact Neanderthal remains indicate the more primitive ones had more prominent brow ridges than the narrow ones, it makes sense to think they assimilated with Caucasians.

Here are some of the articles I have read about them.

Neanderthal mitochondrial DNA
The Neanderthal theory of autism, Asperger and ADHD
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | The icy truth behind Neanderthals
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Late Neanderthals 'more like us'
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Neanderthals were 'adults by 15'
Neanderthals were just like us - violent but caring: researchers

PS. I added all of these articles to Darren Blacksmith's Cool Tools 4 Men Forum a few years ago.

Yeah, I've seen a few documentaries about them over the years and I always thought we were probably underestimating them. We do this with apes and other mammals too: we've got a real superiority complex with the rest of the animal kingdom.

**Chris Key** · 29th-August-2008

Quote from brian44

Yeah, I've seen a few documentaries about them over the years and I always thought we were probably underestimating them. We do this with apes and other mammals too: we've got a real superiority complex with the rest of the animal kingdom.

A lot of creatures are probably as intelligent as Humans. I wouldn't be surprised if it was revealed that rats as as smart as people.

**Tyrael** · 29th-August-2008

Quote from Chris Key

I wouldn't be surprised if it was revealed that rats as as smart as people.

Err that is impossible.

**MAUS** · 29th-August-2008

One of the Neanderthal skeletons found (in Iran) was that of a male who was crippled and broken in his early twenties (probably either in a hunting mishap or perhaps in battle) buthe lived into his forties even though it would have been necessary for others to have provided for him.

The inside of his grave had lots of pollen in it...apparently his grave had been lined with flowers.

They used fire responsibly, they made tools, they struggled for their survival as a team, they cared for their wounded,...and they mourned and honoured their dead.