Neanderthal

Very interesting item on Channel 4 News this evening about dna abstracted from Neanderthal bones.

Analysis and comparisions suggest that Neanderthals and Early Moderns interbred in Europe and the Middle East (but not in Africa apparently).

Neanderthals had a distinctive appearance - low forehead, boney ridge above the eyebrows, a boney bulge on the nape of the neck. Often on the tube I look at people and wonder whether they have the neanderthal gene. Now we know they do.

Despite their ferocious appearance neanderthals were quite sophisticated.

More:

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/05/06/2295639.aspx

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/neanderthals.html

Mauern caves where neaderthals were found with spears and javelins:

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/1324768