NationStates Jolt Archive

"...Nobody's sure why they disappeared, however. Some say climate change did them in. Other scientists figure competition with humans was the issue.

But Fernando Rozzi, of Paris's Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, say our ancestors ate them. The evidence: a Neanderthal jawbone with marks similar to those left on bones of deer and other animals that Stone Age humans butchered, according to the Daily Mail..."

http://www.livescience.com/history/etc/090517-humans-ate-neanderthals-scientist-says.html

I like my Neanderthal well done and you?

Interesting news, anyway.

well man has always resorted to cannibalism in times of hunger.
The eating neanderthal would be a small step better.

Mmm.... neanderthal.

Mmm.... neanderthal.

Tastes like chicken.

Tastes like chicken.

Didn't we supposedly interbreed with them t--Ew.

Thanks a lot, necrophiliac ancestors. I can hardly look forward to my nightmares this evening.

Go fuck yourself, Cro-Magnon.




:tongue:

That shows a lack of reason & planning IMO, unless they were savage Nazis eating Jews (err I mean those neanderthal bastards :tongue:). Not surprising given humanity's average state..

Didn't we supposedly interbreed with them t--Ew.

Thanks a lot, necrophiliac ancestors. I can hardly look forward to my nightmares this evening.

Go fuck yourself, Cro-Magnon.




:tongue:

they have found no genetic evidence of that. though one guy has argued red hair is from them.

That's how we became omnivores... :p

I need a toothpick to remove the last parts of my Neanderthal between my teeth.

they have found no genetic evidence of that. though one guy has argued red hair is from them.

It's not a new idea, actually. And there has been evidence to suggest it.

The validity of such an extensive period of cornered Neanderthal groups is recently questioned. There is no longer certainty regarding the identity of the humans who produced the Aurignacian culture, even though the presumed westward spread of anatomically modern humans (AMHs) across Europe is still based on the controversial first dates of the Aurignacian. Currently, the oldest European anatomically modern Homo sapiens is represented by a robust modern human mandible discovered at Pestera cu Oase (south-west Romania), dated to 34–36 kya (thousand years ago). Human skeletal remains from the German site of Vogelherd, so far regarded the best association between anatomically modern Homo sapiens and Aurignacian culture, were revealed to represent intrusive Neolithic burials into the Aurignacian levels and subsequently all the key Vogelherd fossils are now dated to 3.9–5.0 thousand years ago instead.[78] As for now, the expansion of the first anatomically modern humans into Europe can not be located by diagnostic and well-dated anatomically modern human fossils "west of the Iron Gates of the Danube" before 32 kya.[79]

Consequently, the exact nature of biological and cultural interactions between Neanderthals and other human groups between 50 and 30 thousand years ago is currently hotly contested.[80] A new proposal resolves the issue by taking the Gravettians rather than the Aurignacians as the anatomically modern humans which contributed to the post-30 kya Eurasian genetic pool.[80] Correspondingly, the human skull fragment found at the Elbe River bank at Hahnöfersand near Hamburg was once radiocarbon dated to 36,000 years ago and seen as possible evidence for the intermixing of Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans. It is now dated to the more recent Mesolithic.[81]

Modern human findings in Abrigo do Lagar Velho, Portugal of 24,500 years ago, allegedly featuring Neanderthal admixtures, have been published.[82] However the interpretation of the Portuguese specimen is disputed.[71]

In another study, researchers have recently found in Pestera Muierii, Romania, remains of European humans from 30 kya who possessed mostly diagnostic "modern" anatomical features, but also had distinct Neanderthal features not present in ancestral modern humans in Africa, including a large bulge at the back of the skull, a more prominent projection around the elbow joint, and a narrow socket at the shoulder joint. Analysis of one skeleton's shoulder showed that these humans, like Neanderthal, did not have the full capability for throwing spears.[22]

The paleontological analysis of modern human emergence in Europe has been shifting from considerations of the Neanderthals to assessments of the biology and chronology of the earliest modern humans in western Eurasia. This focus, involving morphologically modern humans before 28,000 years ago shows accumulating evidence that they present a variable mosaic of derived modern human, archaic human, and Neanderthal features.[83][84][85] Studies of fossils from the upper levels of the Sima de las Palomas, Murcia, Spain, dated to 40,000 years ago, establish the late persistence of Neanderthals in Iberia. This reinforces the conclusion that the Neanderthals were not merely swept away by advancing modern humans. In addition, the Palomas Neanderthals variably exhibit a series of modern human features rare or absent in earlier Neanderthals. Either they were evolving on their own towards the modern human pattern, or more likely, they had contact with early modern humans around the Pyrenees. If the latter, it implies that the persistence of the Middle Paleolithic in Iberia was a matter of choice, and not cultural retardation.[86]

22. Hayes, Jacqui (November 2, 2006). "Humans and Neanderthals interbred (http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/814)". Cosmos. Retrieved on May 17, 2009.

71. Ruzicka J, Hansen EH, Ghose AK, Mottola HA (February 1979). "Enzymatic determination of urea in serum based on pH measurement with the flow injection method". Analytical Chemistry 51 (2): 199–203. doi:10.1021/ac50038a011 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1021%2Fac50038a011). PMID 33580 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33580).

78. Conard, Nj; Grootes, Pm; Smith, Fh (Jul 2004). "Unexpectedly recent dates for human remains from Vogelherd. (http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v430/n6996/full/nature02690.html)". Nature 430 (6996): 198–201. doi:10.1038/nature02690 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1038%2Fnature02690). ISSN 0028-0836 (http://worldcat.org/issn/0028-0836). PMID 15241412. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15241412)

79. Soficaru A, Dobos A, Trinkaus E (November 2006). "Early modern humans from the Pestera Muierii, Baia de Fier, Romania (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1859909)". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 103 (46): 17196–201. doi:10.1073/pnas.0608443103 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1073%2Fpnas.0608443103). PMID 17085588 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17085588).

80. Finlayson C, Carrión JS (April 2007). "Rapid ecological turnover and its impact on Neanderthal and other human populations". Trends in Ecology & Evolution (Personal Edition) 22 (4): 213–22. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2007.02.001 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.tree.2007.02.001). PMID 17300854 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17300854).

81. Terberger, Thomas (2006). "From the First Humans to the Mesolithic Hunters in the Northern German Lowlands – Current Results and Trends" (http://www.uni-greifswald.de/~histor/~ufg/mitarbeiter/terberger/Terberger1_LoRes.pdf). in Keld Møller Hansen and Kristoffer Buck Pedersen. Across the western Baltic. Vordingborg, Denmark: Sydsjællands Museum. pp. 23–56. ISBN 87-983097-5-7.

82. Duarte C, Maurício J, Pettitt PB, Souto P, Trinkaus E, van der Plicht H, Zilhão J (June 1999). "The early Upper Paleolithic human skeleton from the Abrigo do Lagar Velho (Portugal) and modern human emergence in Iberia (http://www.pnas.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=10377462)". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proceedings_of_the_National_Academy_of_Sciences)96 (13): 7604–9. doi:10.1073/pnas.96.13.7604 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1073%2Fpnas.96.13.7604). PMID 10377462 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10377462). PMC: 22133 (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=22133). Retrieved on May 17, 2009.

83. Trinkaus E, Moldovan O, Milota S, Bîlgăr A, Sarcina L, Athreya S, Bailey SE, Rodrigo R, Mircea G, Higham T, Ramsey CB, van der Plicht J (September 2003). "An early modern human from the Peştera cu Oase, Romania (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=208740)". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 100 (20): 11231–6. doi:10.1073/pnas.2035108100http://dx.doi.org/10.1073%2Fpnas.2035108100. PMID 14504393 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14504393).

84. Soficaru A, Dobos A, Trinkaus E (November 2006). "Early modern humans from the Pestera Muierii, Baia de Fier, Romania (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1859909)". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 103 (46): 17196–201. doi:10.1073/pnas.0608443103 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1073%2Fpnas.0608443103). PMID 17085588 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17085588).

85. Trinkaus E (May 2007). "European early modern humans and the fate of the Neandertals (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1863481)". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104 (18): 7367–72. doi:10.1073/pnas.0702214104 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1073%2Fpnas.0702214104). PMID 17452632 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17452632).

86. Washington University in St. Louis (December 8, 2008). "Late Neandertals and Modern Human Contact in Southeastern Iberia". (http://newswise.com/articles/view/547207/) Newswise. Retrieved on May 16, 2009.

22. Hayes, Jacqui (November 2, 2006). "Humans and Neanderthals interbred (http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/814)". Cosmos. Retrieved on May 17, 2009.Counter-evidence: DNA find deepens Neanderthal mystery (http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/853/dna-find-deepens-neanderthal-mystery)

It's not a new idea, actually. And there has been evidence to suggest it.



22. Hayes, Jacqui (November 2, 2006). "Humans and Neanderthals interbred (http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/814)". Cosmos. Retrieved on May 17, 2009.

71. Ruzicka J, Hansen EH, Ghose AK, Mottola HA (February 1979). "Enzymatic determination of urea in serum based on pH measurement with the flow injection method". Analytical Chemistry 51 (2): 199–203. doi:10.1021/ac50038a011 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1021%2Fac50038a011). PMID 33580 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33580).

78. Conard, Nj; Grootes, Pm; Smith, Fh (Jul 2004). "Unexpectedly recent dates for human remains from Vogelherd. (http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v430/n6996/full/nature02690.html)". Nature 430 (6996): 198–201. doi:10.1038/nature02690 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1038%2Fnature02690). ISSN 0028-0836 (http://worldcat.org/issn/0028-0836). PMID 15241412. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15241412)

79. Soficaru A, Dobos A, Trinkaus E (November 2006). "Early modern humans from the Pestera Muierii, Baia de Fier, Romania (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1859909)". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 103 (46): 17196–201. doi:10.1073/pnas.0608443103 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1073%2Fpnas.0608443103). PMID 17085588 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17085588).

80. Finlayson C, Carrión JS (April 2007). "Rapid ecological turnover and its impact on Neanderthal and other human populations". Trends in Ecology & Evolution (Personal Edition) 22 (4): 213–22. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2007.02.001 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.tree.2007.02.001). PMID 17300854 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17300854).

81. Terberger, Thomas (2006). "From the First Humans to the Mesolithic Hunters in the Northern German Lowlands – Current Results and Trends" (http://www.uni-greifswald.de/~histor/~ufg/mitarbeiter/terberger/Terberger1_LoRes.pdf). in Keld Møller Hansen and Kristoffer Buck Pedersen. Across the western Baltic. Vordingborg, Denmark: Sydsjællands Museum. pp. 23–56. ISBN 87-983097-5-7.

82. Duarte C, Maurício J, Pettitt PB, Souto P, Trinkaus E, van der Plicht H, Zilhão J (June 1999). "The early Upper Paleolithic human skeleton from the Abrigo do Lagar Velho (Portugal) and modern human emergence in Iberia (http://www.pnas.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=10377462)". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proceedings_of_the_National_Academy_of_Sciences)96 (13): 7604–9. doi:10.1073/pnas.96.13.7604 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1073%2Fpnas.96.13.7604). PMID 10377462 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10377462). PMC: 22133 (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=22133). Retrieved on May 17, 2009.

83. Trinkaus E, Moldovan O, Milota S, Bîlgăr A, Sarcina L, Athreya S, Bailey SE, Rodrigo R, Mircea G, Higham T, Ramsey CB, van der Plicht J (September 2003). "An early modern human from the Peştera cu Oase, Romania (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=208740)". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 100 (20): 11231–6. doi:10.1073/pnas.2035108100http://dx.doi.org/10.1073%2Fpnas.2035108100. PMID 14504393 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14504393).

84. Soficaru A, Dobos A, Trinkaus E (November 2006). "Early modern humans from the Pestera Muierii, Baia de Fier, Romania (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1859909)". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 103 (46): 17196–201. doi:10.1073/pnas.0608443103 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1073%2Fpnas.0608443103). PMID 17085588 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17085588).

85. Trinkaus E (May 2007). "European early modern humans and the fate of the Neandertals (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1863481)". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104 (18): 7367–72. doi:10.1073/pnas.0702214104 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1073%2Fpnas.0702214104). PMID 17452632 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17452632).

86. Washington University in St. Louis (December 8, 2008). "Late Neandertals and Modern Human Contact in Southeastern Iberia". (http://newswise.com/articles/view/547207/) Newswise. Retrieved on May 16, 2009.

There are even humans that try to mate with chimps or gorillas. So why not with a specie which is very close to homo sapiens?

they have found no genetic evidence of that. though one guy has argued red hair is from them.

that would explain our natural adversion to ginges.

Does this mean cannibalism is socially acceptable now?!

*Looks around, spots LG*

Hmm, I never had clown before...

Does this mean cannibalism is socially acceptable now?!

*Looks around, spots LG*

Hmm, I never had clown before...

Everyone knows they taste funny. Those bright colorations are warnings after all.

they have found no genetic evidence of that. though one guy has argued red hair is from them.

No, read hair is from the devil...

On topic: Even if we didn't eat them we could have killed them. Considering our tendencies to kill humans that are not like us, how would humans react to another species that look almost the same but still a lot different.

Cannibalism. So easy, a caveman can do it.

So ALL of those Neanderthals were eaten but they missed Rush Limbaugh? Damm! Just our luck!

I bet Peking man was tasty, though half an hour after you would want another...




You gotta love old jokes...

Mmm.... neanderthal.

Only in the form of neanderthal taco pizza.

they have found no genetic evidence of that. though one guy has argued red hair is from them.

Have they got any Neandethal DNA?

No, read hair is from the devil...

On topic: Even if we didn't eat them we could have killed them. Considering our tendencies to kill humans that are not like us, how would humans react to another species that look almost the same but still a lot different.

Ummmm now there must be something we can figuire out from what we know of our history......but what?:D

Have they got any Neandethal DNA?

They have a rough draft of the Neanderthal genome

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthal_Genome_Project

They have a rough draft of the Neanderthal genome

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthal_Genome_Project

That link says that this Nenadethal DNA is 99.5% like ours. I would say that is evidance that we have interbred.

That link says that this Nenadethal DNA is 99.5% like ours. I would say that is evidance that we have interbred.

We share 96% of our DNA with chimps - it doesn't mean we have interbred.

We share 96% of our DNA with chimps - it doesn't mean we have interbred.

No it doesn't but we do share a common ancester. Really though this is in answer to GaD, whos say that there is no such evidance for interbreeding. It seems to me that at 99.5% simulariter, we cannot really claim that nor dismiss the possiblity.

That link says that this Nenadethal DNA is 99.5% like ours. I would say that is evidance that we have interbred.

All current evidence suggests that modern humans and Neandertals were separate species. While children could hypothetically be produced, fertile offspring are extremely unlikely. Mammals, as a general rule, do not play havoc with the definition of species.

that would explain our natural adversion to ginges.

You don't like redheads? Oh well, more for me, then.:p

We'll eat anything. See: Mechanically reclaimed meat and bloat fish.

i thought it was fairly settled that there was at least some gene flow between neandertals and modern humans. specifically, we have good evidence of introgression for a couple things. like haplogroup d of the MCPH1 gene in modern humans, that came directly from either neandertals or some other archaic human group that had been genetically separated from our ancestors in the same time frame as them.

Those Neanderthals had a bigger brain as us and at the same time they were smaller. Which is suggesting that they maybe were smarter.

On the other hand, they aren't here any more (Arnie 'Kalifornia' Swarzenegger is the last specimen) which is suggesting the opposite.

Maybe they had more morality, style 'thou shall not eat homo sapiens' and were they beaten on the level of being good nice civilians.

It is precisely because they were smarter and more civilized perhaps that we dominated, because we were probably much more murderous and savage.

Or maybe we got help from aliens or Predators... or maybe they just had bad luck. It happens you know, like it did with the dinos.

Those Neanderthals had a bigger brain as us and at the same time they were smaller.

not really, no

Does eating Neanderthals actually count as cannibalism?

Does eating Neanderthals actually count as cannibalism?

Depends on whether you believe they were human enough to allow, for example, interbreeding. Which I think they were, so yes.

Then eating a person of the same gender is not cannibalism?

Then eating a person of the same gender is not cannibalism?

Of course it is, as such persons are completely human. I am merely arguing that Neanderthals were likely human enough to qualify as cannibal fare - genetic similarity enough to allow natural interbreeding is an argument for their human-ness.

They'd also probably taste exactly like humans.

Of course it is, as such persons are completely human. I am merely arguing that Neanderthals were likely human enough to qualify as cannibal fare - genetic similarity enough to allow natural interbreeding is an argument for their human-ness.

They'd also probably taste exactly like humans.

Nah, everything taste as chicken...

But what are the proof of them interbreeding? AFAIK there is pretty much no evidence that suggest that. Since I sometimes teach the human evolution it would be interesting to read about if you have any links.

But what are the proof of them interbreeding? AFAIK there is pretty much no evidence that suggest that. Since I sometimes teach the human evolution it would be interesting to read about if you have any links.

http://www.pnas.org/content/103/48/18178.abstract
"Evidence that the adaptive allele of the brain size gene microcephalin introgressed into Homo sapiens from an archaic Homo lineage "

The ultimate test would be to use Neanderthal DNA to genetically reconstruct a Neanderthal. Then we feed it to cannibals and ask them if it tastes about right.

Nah, everything taste as chicken...

But what are the proof of them interbreeding? AFAIK there is pretty much no evidence that suggest that. Since I sometimes teach the human evolution it would be interesting to read about if you have any links.

I posted an excerpt with an assload of links. It would be nice if you didn't ignore them.

Those Neanderthals had a bigger brain as us and at the same time they were smaller. Which is suggesting that they maybe were smarter.
Not necessarily. If brain size meant anything, then Blue Whales are 1000 times more intelligent than us.
Also, they weren't smaller than us: Females were around 5 foot; Males around 5'6" which would have been above average compared to human back then. Even above average compared to human just a couple of centuries ago. Also they were a lot heavier and stronger than us.

I read somewhere - Scientific America iirc - that Neanderthals matured a lot quicker than Sapiens;They were ready to breed by around age 7.
This meant they had less time to learn and develop mentally & socially, which proved to be their downfall upon meeting and competing against the more socially-developed Homo Sapien race.

As I'm skimming I keep reading the title of this thread as "Humans Ate Netherlands" and being all like "impressive!" and then rereading it and I get disappointed. This has happened at least 3 times since the thread was posted.

All current evidence suggests that modern humans and Neandertals were separate species. While children could hypothetically be produced, fertile offspring are extremely unlikely. Mammals, as a general rule, do not play havoc with the definition of species.
Really?

Great cats, I'm looking at you...

I bet Peking man was tasty, though half an hour after you would want another...

You gotta love old jokes...


But the MSG!

All current evidence suggests that modern humans and Neandertals were separate species. While children could hypothetically be produced, fertile offspring are extremely unlikely. Mammals, as a general rule, do not play havoc with the definition of species.

Ahh NO!

http://www.hemmy.net/2006/06/19/top-10-hybrid-animals/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMWi7CLoZ2Q&feature=related

isn't it weird how are species seems to rule the world thanks to its appetite :)

they have found no genetic evidence of that. though one guy has argued red hair is from them.

Really?

Great cats, I'm looking at you...

some cats have red fur as do orangutans >_>

http://www.hemmy.net/2006/06/19/top-10-hybrid-animals/

A Cama is a hybrid between a camel and a llama. They are born via artificial insemination due to the huge difference in sizes of the animals which disallow natural breeding.

okay I'd like to know who's job at the zoo it is to randomly start mixing and matching animals for shits and giggles

okay I'd like to know who's job at the zoo it is to randomly start mixing and matching animals for shits and giggles

Maybe I'm a freak, but I'd take that job for the lulz, as long as I could get someone else to physically do the insemination.

Some Internet site (cannot find it now, alas) ran a contest for "worst job in the world", and the winner was the semen-collector at the Singapore zoo (quote: "I never thought I'd end up giving hand jobs to orangutans").

I'd eat a neanderthal, provided it was tasty.

I'd eat a neanderthal, provided it was tasty.Why wouldn't he eat you instead? :p

Why wouldn't he eat you instead? :p

Because Getbrett's spoiled.

:p

Why wouldn't he eat you instead? :p

Human flesh isn't particularly tasty.

Human flesh isn't particularly tasty.
As with anything, I'd bet it depends heavily on preparation and seasoning. And the health/nutrition of the specimen.

As with anything, I'd bet it depends heavily on preparation and seasoning. And the health/nutrition of the specimen.

Yeah, probably. If we taste of pork, presumably there's a cut of the belly that can be cured as human bacon. Pork itself is like chewing old boots.

The only thing tasty about humans is human blood. Delicious; you can practically taste the hormones.

Human flesh isn't particularly tasty.Are you joking, of course that depends on the species. Or are you suggesting a lion won't like your taste either?

Are you joking, of course that depends on the species. Or are you suggesting a lion won't like your taste either?

O_o yes but we might be good with a little seasoning

for the record the reason cats don't yomp down on things like chocolate is they have lost the ability to taste sweet which I think is where your getting confused

Yeah, probably. If we taste of pork, presumably there's a cut of the belly that can be cured as human bacon. Pork itself is like chewing old boots.

The only thing tasty about humans is human blood. Delicious; you can practically taste the hormones.

According to Robots, humans taste like bacon! (http://www.wired.com/table_of_malcontents/2006/11/robot_identifie/)

Not necessarily. If brain size meant anything, then Blue Whales are 1000 times more intelligent than us.
Also, they weren't smaller than us: Females were around 5 foot; Males around 5'6" which would have been above average compared to human back then. Even above average compared to human just a couple of centuries ago. Also they were a lot heavier and stronger than us.

I read somewhere - Scientific America iirc - that Neanderthals matured a lot quicker than Sapiens;They were ready to breed by around age 7.
This meant they had less time to learn and develop mentally & socially, which proved to be their downfall upon meeting and competing against the more socially-developed Homo Sapien race.

I think it had more to do with our developed frontal lobes than an extended childhood. Bonobos have a much longer childhood than most primates, but they certainly don't dominate the primate world--their numbers are much smaller than chimpanzees. The real difference between us was the parts of our brains that were more developed, which allowed more adaptability, imagination, creative problem-solving, etc. We also had a lot more articulation in our limbs and joint flexibility, although we paid for it by being less robust.