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Neanderthal vs. Modern Man

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Neanderthal vs. Modern Man
March 26, 2013 ANTHRO 3 Paper Neanderthal vs. Modern Man In the world today, all humans are classified as Homo sapiens. However, exactly 157 years ago, a completely new species is recognized by Johann Fuhlrott in a limestone quarry of the Neander Valley in Germany. In August 1856, a skull cap, two femora, three bones from the right arm, two bones from the left arm, a part of the left ilium, fragments of a scapula, and ribs are excavated and put together into a type specimen named Neanderthal 1. This specimen is believed to be a whole new species: Homo neanderthalensis. Scientists today are still arguing about the origin of the Neanderthals. Do they belong to the same species as modern men, or are they a species of their own? Neanderthals and modern humans have numerous amounts of similarities and differences, and based on these facts, scientists are trying to come up with a final conclusion on what the actual species of the Neanderthal may be. Neanderthals and modern humans have many physical dissimilarities. Based on intensive studies of Neanderthal skulls, a team of scientists from the Leipzig-based Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology conclude that during the first year of life, new-born Neanderthals and human babies have remarkably similar brains. The similarities of their brains are solely due to the similar structures of both mothers ' birth canals. However, as both species mature, the brain size and shape undergo changes. First of all, the face of a Neanderthal at birth is already larger than a modern human 's face. As the bodies mature, the Neanderthal 's brain grows to be slightly larger than a modern man 's. The Neanderthal 's nose is also different from a modern man 's; it is broader and shorter. The forehead of a modern man is high-domed, and the jaw is smaller than a Neanderthal 's. The larger frontal lobe of a modern man is what makes the species a more intelligent one. Since that region of the brain controls


Cited: Choi, Charles. "Neanderthal Sex: Modern Humans Ended Interbreeding After Migrating From Africa, Study Suggests." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 05 Oct. 2012. Web. 26 Mar. 2013. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/05/neanderthal-sex- modern-humans-interbreeding-africa_n_1942142.html>. Dorling Kindersley. "First Modern Humans." Infoplease. Dorling Kindersley, 2007. Web. 26 Mar. 2013. <http://www.infoplease.com/dk/encyclopedia/first-modern-humans.html>. Max-Planck-Gesellschaft. "Brains of Neanderthals and modern humans developed differently." ScienceDaily, 9 Nov. 2010. Web. 26 Mar. 2013. O 'Neil, Dennis. "Evolution of Modern Humans:  Early Modern Homo Sapiens." Evolution of Modern Humans:  Early Modern Homo Sapiens. Dennis O 'Neil, 1999-2012. Web. 26 Mar. 2013. <http://anthro.palomar.edu/homo2/mod_homo_4.htm>. O 'Neil, Dennis. "Evolution of Modern Humans:  Neandertals." Evolution of Modern Humans: Neandertals. Dennis O 'Neil, 1999-2013. Web. 26 Mar. 2013. < http://anthro.palomar.edu/homo2/mod_homo_2.htm>. Wolchover, Natalie. "Why Humans Prevailed Over Neanderthals." News.discovery.com. TechMediaNetwork, 15 June 2012. Web. 26 Mar. 2013. <http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/humans-neanderthals-120605.htm>.
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