Survivor man: how our ancestors defeated the Neanderthals
MOSCOW, 19 Jul — RIA Novosti, Alfia Enikeeva. Scientists are still arguing about the causes of the sudden disappearance of the Neanderthals about 30 thousand years ago. The most popular hypothesis is genocide by the CRO-magnons, and mixing with them, with the result that the Neanderthals disappeared as a species. However, many researchers believe that the palaeoanthropes just could not stand competition with our ancestors.
What are the benefits and why the CRO-magnon went extinct Neanderthals — in the material RIA Novosti.
When the ancestors of modern humans 70 thousand years ago came from East Africa and reached Arabia, a large part of Eurasia were inhabited by other species of human, including Neanderthals. However, after 40 thousand years from our nearest relatives are gone.
If you drop the charges the ancient people’s bloodlust and purposeful extermination of cousins, it is likely that Neanderthals disappeared because it could not compete with CRO-magnon — ancient homo sapiens living in the upper Paleolithic (from 40 to ten thousand years ago).
The cerebellum determines the superiority
The brain size CRO-magnons is almost no different from Neanderthals. Science journalist Alexander Sokolov in his book “Myths about human evolution” gives the following estimates: the average volume of the brain of CRO-magnon was approximately 1497 cubic centimeters, and Neanderthal — 1433 cubic centimeter.
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Infants of both species of ancient humans born with the practically identical shape of the skull and a similar brain structure. However, by year there were differences. Homo neanderthalensis was a relatively small frontal and parietal lobes compared with the more developed occipital. In place of the zone Brock that meet modern humans over the motor organization of speech, had raised the mounds and the hole of the cerebellar vermis was flat and wide, which is considered a primitive trait.
According to Japanese scientists, it is an underdeveloped cerebellum played a crucial role in the extinction of the palaeoanthropes. This area of the brain responsible for motor coordination, cognitive ability and social skills. Neanderthals most likely had it (as evidenced by well-developed hyoid bone), but our ancestors spoke a little better and communicate more with each other. These minor at first glance, the differences are enough that CRO-magnons prevailed over Neanderthals, scientists believe.
Helped to survive the right diet
However, the superiority of one species over another is not always due to a more developed intellect. After analyzing the records of CRO-magnon and Neanderthal, the German researchers came to the conclusion that the main advantage of our ancestors consisted in the constancy of food habits.