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Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jim Willie CB who wrote (19178)	5/15/2003 5:33:21 PM
From: T L Comiskey	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 89467

Me a Neanderthaler..? Im flattered........ there is No evidence that the Thal folks slaughtered...starved or otherwise abused their kind we 'think' of them as primitive.... thats just 'thinking' and most likely...Wrong T NEANDERTHAL Erasing the Myth A long held myth about the Neanderthals is that they were dull, sluggish, stupid creatures who lumbered around grunting and dragging a wooden club behind them. Actually, Neanderthals were quite intelligent with skulls sometimes larger than ours. They had fairly advanced tools, used fire, performed ritual burials and cared for the old and sick. Why then have there been so many misconceptions about the Neanderthals. One answer to this question can be found in the overall physique of these individuals. Their short powerful limbs, stock trunk and wide- hipped, knock-kneed stance provides for an almost comical picture, yet each feature had its advantages (as well as several disadvantages). In fact, at first the remains being uncovered were believed to belong to an "idiot," but as more specimens of this type were unearthed, this theory became less popular. A second reason for this misconception was that one particular specimen was used for much of the early study. The remains of this skeleton from LaChapelle aux Saints had a number of unusual characteristics: a divergent big toe and knock-kneed stance which, like the apes, would give it a rocking type of movement; a forward thrusted head; and even though it had a brain capacity of 1600 cc, it was believed to be stupid. What was not taken into account, however, was that these remains were those of an old man who had suffered from deforming arthritis. This made it even clearer how important it is to have all of the pieces of the puzzle together before attempting to guess what the picture is. Increasingly Human: Neanderthals show the first signs of being a social population in which the old and the injured were taken care of instead of simply being left to die. Individuals of well-advanced years, such as the old man from La Chapelle aux Saints, have been found at Neanderthal living and burial sites. Remains of several physically impaired individuals lend support to the idea that one of the features that makes humans human is the larger role that mental abilities play over physical ones in the selection process.