NEANDERTHALS & CRO-MAGNONS.   Term Paper ID:19307 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Examines how former disappeared & latter emerged. Archaeological evidence, theories, tools, rituals, society, communications, evolution, interbreeding.... More...

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Paper Abstract: Examines how former disappeared & latter emerged. Archaeological evidence, theories, tools, rituals, society, communications, evolution, interbreeding. Paper Introduction: A number of questions have been raised as a result of the studies pertaining to Neanderthal man. Like modern man, the Neanderthals are classified as homo sapiens. This distinguishes them from the homo erectus creatures which preceded them. Descriptions of Neanderthal man indicate that he "was normally chinless, had prominent brow ridges and a receding forehead, but his brain was as large as modern man's" (Bray & Trump, 1979, p. 159). At the same time, however, the Neanderthals were clearly different in many ways from modern man. In fact, there is evidence that when the Neanderthals became extinct, they were replaced by Cro-Magnon man. The Cro-Magnons are essentially the same as modern man. By contrast, the remains of Neanderthal man seem to possess characteristics which are both primitive and modern. The fossil evidence indicates that the Neanderthals co- Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. Therefore, in seeking to answer the question of Neanderthal man'sdisappearance, it must be noted that "skeletal material from the criticalperiod is so scanty that the question must, for the time being, remain anopen one" (Bray & Trump, 1979, p. However,Australopithecus man differed from Neanderthal man in that he had a muchsmaller brain shell. Ronen, A. Muller has claimed that Neanderthal man"appeared on the scene perhaps a hundred thousand years ago" (Muller, 1961,p. Marshackclaims that support for the interbreeding theory can be found in the factthat "modern man appeared in Europe 'suddenly'" (Marshack, 1972, p. They developed more efficient tools than ever before, "includingtools to make tools, and with stone they worked bone, horn, and ivory"(Muller, 1961, p. Due to a lack of solid evidence, it is impossible at thistime to determine which, if either, of these theories is the correct one.Thus, as indicated in the words of Marshack: "The archaeological evidenceis still too scanty to make the full story certain" (Marshack, 1972, p.64). However, the Neanderthals also represented an important transition towardmodernity. Another hypotheticalview regarding the Neanderthals is the possibility that they may haveengaged in cannibalistic rituals. 1 ). Some scientists believethat the Neanderthals became extinct because they gradually evolved intothe Cro-Magnons. If evolution had been the cause for theCro-Magnons' appearance, then the fossil record would show a more gradualarrival instead. Roe, D. On the other hand,the tools of the Cro-Magnons were far advanced over those of theNeanderthals. Compared with the earlier species of human-like creatures, theNeanderthals also made more efficient use of the weapons of hunting. One of the most interesting facets of Neanderthalburials is the fact that various items have been found inside the graveswith the skeletal remains. Marshack also argues that Cro-Magnon could not haveevolved from the Neanderthals because the two species are dramaticallydifferent from one another. 68). Dr. Schaafhausen made a thorough description of the remainsand determined that they contained both human and non-humancharacteristics. Introducing prehistory. However, the Cro-Magnons went even further. In contrast withmodern society, these graves were generally dug inside the dwellings of theNeanderthals. While admitting this possibility, Clarkand Piggott nonetheless argue in favor of the evolution theory, claimingthat it seems to provide a more "reasonable" explanation for the mixing oftraits (Clark & Piggot, 1965, p. Therefore, the possibility of a Neanderthal languagewill undoubtedly remain on the level of a hypothesis. This discovery stirred upa great deal of interest in the scientific community because the mandible-style jawbone is not found in modern human beings. However,the scientist Karl Fuhlrott was able to save some pieces of the bones thathad been discarded. In the words of Marshack, "the stone tools areexquisitely conceived and wrought, and the range of specialized tools,points, and edges comparatively large" (Marshack, 1972, p. Reader, J. In addition, whiteindicates that some skulls appear to have been "burned from cooking"(White, 1976, p. Someresearchers have claimed that the theory of evolutionary change in humanbeings is also supported "by stressing certain elements of continuitybetween Mousterian [Neanderthal] and Upper Palaeolithic [Cro-Magnon] flint-working" (Bray & Trump, 1979, p. Furthersupport for the interbreeding theory can be seen in the archaeologicalrecord which shows a relatively sudden appearance of the Cro-Magnons inEurope. This indicates a widespreaddistribution of the Neanderthals over the face of the earth. Studying the skull fragments and the other skeletal pieces,Schaafhausen reached the conclusion that they represented the remains of ahuman being. On the basisof this evidence, Neanderthals are known to have lived in the Middle East,Northern Africa, Asia, and various parts of Europe. Thus, the search for absoluteproof of "human morphological change" has continued to the present day(Grayson, 1983, p. These were made fromflakes which had been broken off of larger stones. 1 7). 68). 65). One group of scientistsbelieves in the interbreeding theory while the other believes in theevolution theory. However, it must also be noted that the Neanderthals were notcompletely the same as modern man. However, with the Cro-Magnons, the concepts of art and religionattained an even higher level of development. In order to explain thenon-human features in the bones, these scientists suggested that theremains belonged to someone with medical deformities. Compared with the Neanderthals,the Cro-Magnons made more extensive migrations around the world. All of these burial customs show that the Neanderthals had a sense of"ceremony and ritual" in their disposition of the dead (Ronen, 198 , p.66). The fact that the Neanderthals represent an important phase in theevolutionary development of humankind can be seen in the cultural andsocial advancements which were made during their time. 1 7). The Cro-Magnons are essentially the same as modern man. Furthermore, there is evidence that Cro-Magnon man was capableof cooking food (Muller, 1961, p. Grayson, D. 66). Clark and Piggott are two such scientists who support the evolutiontheory. 37). The establishment of human antiquity. The only way that the evolution theory can befully proved is if a "missing link" is found. He believed that "at most it showedsome reversion from the modern human skull towards that of an ape-likeancestor" (Reader, 1981, p. Again,it must be stressed that the theory of Neanderthal cannibalism is highlycontroversial. 7). In addition,Neanderthal graves were usually very small and the bodies were placedinside them in a fetal position. In turn, it issurmised that the disappearance of the Neanderthals was due to a process ofinterbreeding with the Cro-Magnons. These items have included food, tools, animalbodies, and sometimes flowers (Ronen, 198 , p. Muller, H. Yet another example showing the transitional nature of theNeanderthals is the fact that they seemed to have developed a simpleunderstanding of death as well as artistic creation. In contrast with earlier human-like species, Neanderthal man often lived in cave dwellings. (1981). However, if there was not an overlap between the earlierand later species, then it could be hypothesized that perhaps theNeanderthals evolved into the Cro-Magnons. (198 ). Inaddition to their increased practicality, the tools of the Neanderthalsexhibited a step toward an appreciation of artistic concerns. Before the Neanderthals, the primitive human species wasrepresented by the homo erectus man known as Australopithecus. Simple tools had already existedprior to the time of the Neanderthals; however, the Neanderthals createdbetter and more efficient tools than ever before. 39). Thus, for example, wallpaintings of animals may have served the purpose of giving a sense ofmagical control over the hunt. 8). 135). (1976). Inthis way, Huxley expressly argued against the evolution theory. At any rate, the stone tools created by the Neanderthals show a highsense of craftsmanship. 8). In order to determine which, ifeither, of the theories is correct, there is a need for further evidence.Proof for the evolution theory requires some type of "missing link" whichclearly shows both primitive and modern features. Proof for theinterbreeding theory, on the other hand, requires hard evidence in supportof the claim that Cro-Magnon man appeared "suddenly" on the Neanderthalscene. This transition can beclearly seen by comparing the culture of the Neanderthals with that of thehomo erectus creatures which preceded it and that of the Cro-Magnons whichfollowed it. White has also suggested the existence ofcannibalism among the Neanderthals. For example, ithas been argued that the Cro-Magnons may have come from some location inAsia. Theworkmen at the site were unaware of the value of the bones and threw themaway with the rest of the quarry debris (Reader, 1981, p. Despite this point of view, there is really no clear evidence at thistime in support of the evolution theory. In fact, "associatedwith extinct mammals, this mandible was generally agreed to be ofremarkably primitive form, some seeing it as support for Darwin" (Grayson,1983, p. (1972). Glen Arm, Md.: The Sourcebook Project. The other major theory for explaining this phenomenon is theinterbreeding theory. Obviously, both the evolution theory and the interbreedingtheory have arguments in their favor. Huxley was particularlyimpressed with the fact that the size of the brain cavity was comparablewith that of the modern human brain. At the same time, thisevidence can also be interpreted as a sign of interbreeding as opposed toevolution. 8-9). Nevertheless, these differences can be misleading if they areinterpreted incorrectly. If this was the case, then thequestion is raised regarding exactly where the Cro-Magnons came from.Various suggestions have been made in an effort to answer this question.Some of these suggestions seem feasible on their surface. In order for the Neanderthals tosurvive in the colder areas, they had to have developed an ability to usefire. 213). The Neanderthals developed a social organizationthat went beyond anything that had ever existed before. The evidence shows that theNeanderthals began their development in the warmer regions and thenmigrated north into the colder realms. 213). Ronen also agrees that there is a great deal of validity to be foundin the interbreeding theory. The idea of prehistory. However, in contrast to Schaafhausen, Huxleysaw the bones as being more human-like and modern. Since both groups lived atthe same time, it is reasonable to hypothesize that they interbred with oneanother. This was an important step towardmaking hunting more efficient than it had been in the past. In contrast to the earlier homoerectus, Neanderthal man was no longer a mere animal. This would mean that thedevelopment of modern man may have come about as a result of interbreedingbetween the two. In this regard, there is no doubt that theNeanderthals represented a transition from the ancient ape-like homoerectus to the modern homo sapiens of today. However, "the manner ofthis replacement is . Perhaps the solution to this mystery lies somewhere between theextremes of these two theories. There is little doubt that the Neanderthals represent animportant turning point in prehistoric times. In fact, there is evidence thatwhen the Neanderthals became extinct, they were replaced by Cro-Magnon man. Edinburgh:Edinburgh University Press. This mixing of Neanderthal andCro-Magnon traits in a single specimen seems to provide strong evidence forevolution from one type of human to the next. 25). 25). One interesting fact about the discovery of Neanderthal remains isthat they are found throughout the world. The Cro-Magnon hunters also developed advancedweapons, such as spear throwers and bows (Muller, 1961, p. Likewise, statuettes of pregnant women mayhave been created for the purpose of insuring fertility. Since Cro-Magnon man has more traits in common with modern man, it is possible thatinterbreeding of the two groups might have phased out the obsoletecharacteristics which are typically found in Neanderthal remains. Other scientists at thetime who examined the bones disagreed with Schaafhausen's conclusion. In other words, theNeanderthal hunters often preyed on one particular animal. 25). The archaeological recordclearly indicates a gradual development in the use of tools as well as inthe advancement of social organization. At this time, solid evidence in support of either theory islacking. Knopf. Like modern man, the Neanderthals areclassified as homo sapiens. It is more likely that they were simply able to put fireto good use whenever they found it occurring in nature. 59). Clark, G.; Piggott, S. There is widespread agreement among archaeologists today thatNeanderthal man was replaced by the Cro-Magnons. If this is true, it shows a relatively sophisticated level ofdevelopment in Neanderthal society. Minneapolis: LernerPublications. White connects his theory of cannibalism with theidea that Neanderthal man had begun to develop a rudimentary respect forthe dead. Roe bases his belief on the fact that some of the humanskulls at the site were broken open, as if for the purpose of removing thebrains. The period during which the Cro-Magnons were extant is filled withworks such as wall paintings and statuettes. In addition, this migration indicates that the Neanderthals lived incave dwellings and that they were able to use animal skins for clothing andshelter (Ronen, 198 , p. Inaddition to being able to hunt for food, the Cro-Magnons knew how to catchfish. 37). In addition, thereare many similar features to be found in comparing the bone structures inthe remains of the Neanderthals and Australopithecus man. Some scientists hypothesize that this interest in beauty can beconnected to a growing awareness of death. Roesuggests that possible evidence for cannibalism can be found in theNeanderthal remains which were uncovered at Monte Circeo in Italy (Roe,197 , p. (1979). Forexample, it was widely argued that the bones were not those of an ancienthuman being but were rather those of a modern-day "pathological idiot"(Daniel & Renfrew, 1988, p. In addition, the technology of the Neanderthals hadadvanced to the level where there was a capability for fashioning finepoints on weapons (Ronen, 198 , p. They were replaced by the Cro-Magnons, a group of homo sapiens which was very similar to modern man. The roots of civilization: The cognitivebeginnings of man's first art, symbol and notation. Because this mandible was found on the skull of aNeanderthal human, it provided renewed support for the evolution theory.Scientists again began to consider the possibility that Neanderthal man hadevolved into the modern form of humankind that exists today. Perhaps the most important aspect of social organization,however, can be seen in the Neanderthal style of hunting. According to this theory, the Neanderthalsdisappeared as a result of their interbreeding with the Cro-Magnons. The increased size of the Neanderthal man's brain shows anevolutionary step toward modern humanity. Missing links: The hunt for earliest man.Boston: Little, Brown and Company. For example,Neanderthal man was responsible for the development of stone implementswhich were used as tools and weapons. At the same time, however, the Neanderthals were clearlydifferent in many ways from modern man. According to Muller: "In the Near Eastthere is evidence that incoming homo sapiens mixed with Neanderthal man, toproduce a breed more rugged than his own" (Muller, 1961, p. This is perhaps one of the mostcontroversial of the Neanderthal theories to have ever been advanced. . Berkeley: Universityof California Press. As the next step in evolutionary development, the Cro-Magnonsnot only knew how to use fire but also knew how to make fire and how tocook with it, as well. In comparing boththe physical and cultural aspects of Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons, thedifferences tend to stand out more sharply than the similarities.Therefore, it is again surmised that the Cro-Magnons were an entirelydifferent branch of humanity from the Neanderthals. . In the late nineteenth century, the biologist Thomas Huxley made athorough examination of the bones that had been discovered at NeanderValley. Fuhlrott took his bones to the anatomy expert, HermannSchaafhausen. Just as species of birds and other animals were known to evolvefrom one form to another, it was theorized that humankind probably evolvedfrom an earlier form of primate. Prehistory: An introduction. By extension, some researchers have suggested that the burial ritesof the Neanderthals are "the oldest surviving evidence for religiousbeliefs" (Bray & Trump, 1979, p. For example, Mullersees Cro-Magnon man as being a separate group from Neanderthal man. Approximately 4 , to 3 , years ago, the Neanderthalsdisappeared from the face of the earth. 212). White, for example, has claimed:"We cannot tell whether Neanderthal man believed in an after-life, thoughthis is implied by the use of colouring material and the supply ofprovisions for the dead" (White, 1976, p. As such, theNeanderthals were eventually phased out as the mixed children of the twospecies adapted more and more of the Cro-Magnons' modern characteristics.This theory presupposes that the Cro-Magnons came from somewhere outsideEurope (Bray & Trump, 1979, p. 159). For example, the Neanderthal capability for making tools wasa definite advancement over that of earlier cultures. Further evidence insupport of the evolution theory can be seen in some Neanderthal remainswhich were uncovered at a site in the Middle East. In theview of Marshack, the "complex Neanderthal society with seasonal sites andtasks and with occupational and sexual specialization both at the home siteand in the field implied a level of intelligence, cognition, culture, andinterrelation" (Marshack, 1972, p. . In fact, these are the twobasic scientific theories which exist today regarding the disappearance ofthe Neanderthals and the rise of the Cro-Magnons. Another example can be seen in the fact that theNeanderthals had made strides in learning how to use fire for heatingpurposes. 25). on the basis of this fact, "Huxleyconcluded that the features shown by this skull could be encompassed withinthe variation now seen among human crania" (Grayson, 1983, p. Indeed, there are a varietyof other possible reasons to explain the burning of skulls or the existenceof holes in them. 59-61).In fact, the cultural evidence which is available shows that theNeanderthals existed in an earlier state of development. 29). One of the most troubling aspects of the interbreedingtheory is the idea that the Cro-Magnons originated somewhere else and thencame in later to displace the Neanderthals. Fuhlrott was responsible forsalvaging the remains from a quarry dump. Roe has furthernoted that Neanderthal man differed from modern man in that "his limb bonesand his skull retained a number of 'primitive' features" (Roe, 197 , p.61). In support of the theory, he notes the factthat the Cro-Magnons coexisted with the Neanderthals. (1965). In turn, it suggests that the Cro-Magnonswere a separate group which did not evolve directly from the Neanderthals,but rather interbred with them in order to create the genetic patterns ofmodern man. 24). Nevertheless, as in the case of the evolution theory, there is nosufficient evidence at this time to fully prove the interbreeding theory.Although the arguments on both sides of the issue have their individualmerits, they can still be seen as being mere theories which lack solidproof. The Penguin dictionary of archaeology.Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. (1961). For example,the evidence shows that Neanderthal man was capable of hunting down largeanimals. As anindication of the Neanderthals' developing cognitive ability, the animalchosen for this type of specialized hunting was generally the animal thatwas most extant in the region in which the hunters lived (Ronen, 198 , p.68). If evolution were the cause for thetransformation in prehistoric times, there would probably be moresimilarities than differences between the two groups. The fact that the Neanderthals lived in parts of Europe and Asiais important in understanding the evolutionary development of humankind.This is true because the climate of those regions is much colder than it isin North Africa and the Middle East. (197 ). Like Roe, White refers to the factthat many Neanderthal skulls have been broken into. However, this conclusion does notnecessarily follow from the evidence. 16 ). The fossil evidence indicates that the Neanderthalsco-existed for a while with Cro-Magnon man. Thus, manyNeanderthal implements have been discovered which have decorative designscarved upon them. According to this perspective,"an awareness and fear of death led homo sapiens to want to create objectsof lasting beauty that would survive after their makers had ceased toexist" (Ronen, 198 , p. Ronen believes that the disappearance ofthe Neanderthals and the rise of the Cro-Magnons was due to interbreedingrather than evolution. J. 16 ). This canbe seen, for example, in the occasional mixing of traits which is found insuch remains. In hisopinion, the Neanderthal skull was nothing more than a pathologicalvariation of a normal human skull. Instead, theNeanderthals had developed modern human characteristics such as anawareness of death and a concern for other significant people. Some researchers have interpreted this as providingsupport for the interbreeding theory. In fact, it is commonly held that if one were to take aNeanderthal man or woman and dress him or her up in modern clothes, no onewould be able to tell the difference between them and modern human beings(Ronen, 198 , p. Thus, it is apparent that the Neanderthals came some time afterthe existence of homo erectus and some time prior to, or co-existent with,the Cro-Magnons. Yet another contribution of the Cro-Magnons was their development ofart. 67-68). However, an anatomist namedHermann Schaafhausen was the first to make a scientific description of thebones. Noting the fact that Neanderthal skulls have the brow-ridges ofhomo erectus as well as the large brain capacity of modern man, Clark andPiggott have claimed that the Neanderthals "combined primitive withadvanced traits" (Clark & Piggot, 1965, p. In the words of Muller,Neanderthal man "evidently . It is true, comparatively speaking, that theNeanderthals had a more primitive appearance and lifestyle than modern man. Descriptions of Neanderthal man indicatethat he "was normally chinless, had prominent brow ridges and a recedingforehead, but his brain was as large as modern man's" (Bray & Trump, 1979,p. In particular, skulls and bones which show a sharing ofold and new traits seem to provide evidence for evolution. Since 1856, manyother remains from the Neanderthal period have been found. New York: TaplingerPublishing Company.----------------------- 1 It is assumed that this practice was carried out because theNeanderthals wanted to keep their departed loved ones nearby. 66). Many of these opponents claimed that the bones fromNeander Valley were those of a modern human being. (1983). . The first Neanderthal bones were discovered in 1856 in the NeanderValley of Western Germany. TheCro-Magnons were more culturally advanced than the Neanderthals, as well asbeing more adept at making tools, weapons and other implements. On the other hand, theinterbreeding theory is supported by the evidence which shows that theNeanderthals coexisted with the Cro-Magnons. Other scientists at the time disagreed very strongly withthis hypothesis. 1 7). Daniel, G.; Renfrew, C. 7). It may be noted, however, that there isno evidence to support the possibility that the Neanderthals were capableof making fires. The prehistoricrecord indicates that the existence of the Cro-Magnons overlapped with thatof the Neanderthals. Specifically, a number ofprehistoric grave sites have been discovered which indicate that theNeanderthals were in the habit of burying their dead. Ever since the firstNeanderthal bones were discovered, supporters of evolution have dreamed offinding a good example of human remains carrying the traits of bothprimitive and modern man. had some sort of social organization, forhe killed mammoths and rhinoceroses, a feat that lone hunters would hardlybe capable of" (Muller, 1961, p. The Neanderthals were also noted for their ability to makeuse of fire for heating purposes. The first Neanderthal bones wereuncovered in a limestone quarry in the Neander Valley of Germany. (198 ). In addition,Neanderthal remains have been found in parts of the United States. Corliss, W. 34).Perhaps the most fundamental question relating to the disappearance of theNeanderthals is whether or not they overlapped with the Cro-Magnons. Thus,Schaafhausen was the first person to suggest that the Neanderthal remainsindicated signs in support of human evolution. In that grave, several goat horns were found placed besidethe body of a child (Roe, 197 , p. Others suggest that the Cro-Magnons were an entirelyseparate group and that modern man arose as a result of interbreedingbetween the two. Thus, the Neanderthals were obviously moreadvanced than the primitive near-human creatures who preceded them. 34).This sudden appearance seems to support the idea that the Cro-Magnonsarrived from a different location. Subsequentstudies on these remains have removed all doubts regarding their antiquity. Further support for the evolution theory is shown by thefact that the Neanderthals marked a transition from primitive ape-likecreature to the modern homo sapiens of today. The past is human. In addition, ithas been claimed that, despite their ability to use fire for heat, theNeanderthals probably did not know how to cook their food (Muller, 1961, p.7). In addition, theywere the first people to start settling down in the social patterns whichwould gradually evolve into the first cities. Thus, many archaeologists havequestioned whether the Neanderthals and the Cro-Magnons are somehow linkedto one another. The archaeological record suggests thatNeanderthal man was concerned not only with ceremonial burials, but alsowith such things as work specialization and a division of labor. On the basis of his research, Schaafhausen concluded thatthe Neanderthal bones were remnants of "the most ancient memorial of theearly inhabitants of Europe" (Daniel & Renfrew, 1988, p. At any rate,there is no solid evidence to support any of these views at this time.Therefore, as in the case of the evolution theory, the questions over theinterbreeding theory have continued to persist to the present day. It has alsobeen noted that the Neanderthals were the first human-like creatures tocome up with the idea of specialized hunting. These weretwo modern skills that were apparently lacking in the Neanderthal huntingculture. There are many other researchers today who question theevidence that supposedly supports this theory. NewYork: Academic Press. New York:Harper & Brothers. Nevertheless, the question of how the Neanderthals disappeared andthe Cro-Magnons appeared remains unanswered at this time. 63). in doubt" (Bray & Trump, 1979, p. Dr. Karl J. This is reflected in the factthat the Neanderthals are classified as homo sapiens, just as modern humanbeings are. References Bray, W.; Trump, D. Other estimates place the appearance of the Neanderthals at between15 , years ago and 75, years ago. These aspects of development are also reflected in the socialorganization of the Neanderthals. They were stronger andthus more practical than the crude pieces of rock and wood which had beenused before. It has been hypothesized that thispractice was developed because it took up less space inside the dwelling(White, 1976, p. This distinguishes them from the homo erectuscreatures which preceded them. It was largely inspired by the recent work ofCharles Darwin and others regarding the evolution of various differentspecies. Marshacknotes this dilemma when he says: "There is still a blank in the record ofevents that must have occurred between the disappearance of Neanderthal manand the coming of the new man and his culture" (Marshack, 1972, p. The Cro-Magnons were significant in the evolutionary development of humankindbecause they mark a transition to the type of civilization which exists inmodern times. Because of thisoverlap, the idea that the Neanderthals gradually evolved into the Cro-Magnons is discredited somewhat. In addition to these aspects of social development, there is thepossibility that Neanderthal man may have developed a primitive form ofspoken language. The existence of Neanderthal remainsprovided support for this point of view. New York:Alfred A. By contrast, theremains of Neanderthal man seem to possess characteristics which are bothprimitive and modern. Schaafhauseninterpreted this finding as indicating that the remains were of "an earlystage of human evolution linking man to an ape-like ancestor" (Reader,1981, p. At some point in time between 4 , and 3 , years ago, it is believed that the Cro-magnons moved into theEuropean region and replaced the Neanderthals that had formerly beenflourishing there. In hisview, the Cro-Magnons arrived from outside of Europe and subsequentlyinterbred with the Neanderthals. Ancient man: A handbook of puzzlingartifacts. In his view, the evidence is clear "thatNeanderthals never really died out but simply interbred with the moderntype of homo sapiens that appeared later on" (Ronen, 198 , p. In this regard, it isgenerally held that the Neanderthals were replaced by the Cro-Magnons atsome time between 4 , and 3 , years ago (Ronen, 198 , p. With laterdevelopment, the Neanderthals also learned how to create simple huts out ofanimal skins. Ifthere was an overlap, then it can be assumed that the Neanderthals and theCro-Magnons existed together at the same time. As noted, theability to hunt for food and animal skins was a vital aspect in explaininghow the Neanderthals survived as long as they did. The ability to hunt hadbeen developed prior to the advent of the Neanderthals; however, theNeanderthals took the technologies of hunting to new heights. New York: McGraw-HillBook Company. In contrastto the Neanderthals, the Cro-Magnons not only how to use fire but also howto make it. However, again, theCro-Magnons went far beyond these developments in terms of sophisticationand practicality. Forexample, some skulls and skeletal parts were discovered in Nebraska in19 6, and two skulls were found in California in 1923 (Corliss, 198 , p.672-677). 73).Despite the inability of scientists to narrow down these estimates any morethan this, an approximate time frame of when the Neanderthals existed canbe seen. The evolution theory is supported to an extent by the evidence offossil remains. This type of discovery may yet be made at some time in the future.Until then, the theory of human evolution as an explanation for thereplacement of Neanderthal man by Cro-Magnon man continues to becontroversial. Ronen claims that these tools "were more perfect andmore beautiful than any stone tools made before that time" (Ronen, 198 , p.63). Despite the controversy, there are many scholars in the field ofarchaeology who believe in the interbreeding theory. This implies a strong social order in which various hunters wereable to work together toward a mutual goal. As noted, theNeanderthals were beginning to develop a primitive understanding of thesethings. However, thecontroversy over whether the remains are proof of evolution or not stillcontinues to the present day. 68). In examining thisspecimen, Clark and Piggott point out that "certain parts of the skeleton,notably the limb bones, posterior part of the skull and lower jaw, exhibitso modern an appearance that they might well, if found together or singly,have been classified as belonging to a prototype of Cromagnon man; whereasthe anterior part of the skull, recovered alone, would have qualified asNeanderthal" (Clark & Piggot, 1965, p. Marshack, A. Unfortunately, this fact doesnothing to clarify the mystery surrounding the disappearance of theNeanderthals. The remains of Neanderthals have been dated in order to determineapproximately when they lived. 59). The evolution theory was developed soon after the first discovery ofNeanderthal remains in 1856. In fact, examination of Neanderthalremains gives a great deal of support for the evolution theory. The time when the Neanderthalsbecame extinct is also based upon estimates. A number of questions have been raised as a result of the studiespertaining to Neanderthal man. K. 65). White, P. In other Neanderthal graves, alarge stone was placed on top of the body; and, in many others, "the entiregrave site was smeared with a red earth pigment called 'ochre'" (Ronen,198 , p. It isbelieved that the Cro-Magnons had stronger genetic traits. R. However, Schaafhausen also observed that there were somenonhuman characteristics to be found in the bones. It is also reasonable to assume that the group with the strongestgenes for survival would eventually supplant the other group. An example of thispractice can be seen in a Neanderthal burial mound discovered in Uzbekistannear Turkey. In particular, White believes that the Neanderthals may haveeaten the body parts of the dead for the purpose of obtaining some of thepower, strength or wisdom of the dead person (White, 1976, p. Theflake-tools of the Neanderthals were stronger than any of the tools whichhad existed before. One Neanderthalinnovation can be seen in the making of flake-tools. Muller has likewisesuggested that the evidence of Neanderthal burials may provide proof of"some notion of a life after death" (Muller, 1961, p. As a sign of increased development, the Cro-Magnons were capable at growing crops and raising livestock. 25). Of course, there is no way for obtaining evidence tosupport this idea. Thus, the combined traits may have resulted from the merging ofNeanderthal and Cro-Magnon genes. In fact, the brain capacity ofNeanderthal man was actually larger than that of modern man. (1988). This rapid appearance indicates that the Cro-Magnons may havearrived from outside Europe. Thus, the Cro-Magnons were the first group of people todomesticate animals and grow crops (Ronen, 198 , p. Many researchers believe thatthese artistic artifacts are related to the religious beliefs which wereundergoing further development at the time. Over time, more Neanderthal remains werediscovered in various parts of the world and the scientific community wasfinally forced to admit the antiquity of the finds. Other suggestions,have been farfetched. As for thereligious implications of this, Muller indicates that Neanderthal man hadprobably become aware of the fact that "he had a soul" (Muller, 1961, p.8). Roeemphasizes that the larger brain size of the Neanderthals does not indicatethat they were as highly developed as modern humans (Roe, 197 , p. 8). Like Schaafhausen, Huxley noted the combination of human and ape-like features in the remains. After their disappearance,modern human civilizations arose in their wake. However, this in itself is no reason to assume that the brainswere subsequently eaten. 78). In 1866,a Neanderthal mandible was unearthed in Belgium. Freedom in the ancient world. In the words of Reader: "Since the theory ofevolution proposed that man and the apes shared a common ancestor, then thelink could be expected to bear some attributes of both" (Reader, 1981, p.2 ). There is another important way in which the Neanderthals can be seento have developed an awareness of death. Prehistoric societies. In this regard, one isreminded of the theories which claim that the evolution of humankind wasprompted by interbreeding with extra-terrestrial beings. At about the same time, however, furtherevidence in support of the evolution theory was being discovered. 77). Nevertheless, a number of questions still exist concerning exactly how theevidence provided by the remains should be interpreted. LikeNeanderthal man, Australopithecus man stood upright. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.

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