Neanderthals

Neanderthals have long been a problem group; see [Boyd & Silk 1997] , pp 450-455. This is the cranium from La Chapelle-aux-saints in France (47-56,000 yr BP).

This fossil is notorious for the way it misled anatomists about neanderthal posture and intelligence [Stringer & Gamble 1993] .

This individual suffered from osteoarthritis - hardly surprising therefore that he walked with a stoop and died young.

Once classified as Homo neanderthalensis, these are now more commonly referred to as Homo sapiens neanderthalensis.

However, neanderthals first appeared some 230,000 years ago and died out 30,000 years ago. Maybe they are a separate species after all?