For thousands and thousands of generations, Neanderthals ruled the Old Continent with no opposition other than the environment and the predators with which they shared it. So, about 45,000 years ago, the first modern humans came to Europe from Africa . Just 5,000 years later, hardly any trace of Homo neanderthalensis remained.
Paleontologists have put forward different hypotheses to explain the causes of their extinction, from epidemics to devastating changes in the climate . However, many experts are convinced that, to a large extent, those responsible for its decline were our ancestors. Perhaps these simply knew better adapt to different habitats. Or maybe they were reproducing at a higher rate. Or maybe they decided to slaughter every last one of them.
Now a team of researchers from Stanford universities in the US and Meiji universities in Tokyo suggest that Neanderthals may have disappeared as a result of the cultural superiority of newly arrived humans. These scientists support their conclusions on a computer model that simulates species rivalry and that they have adapted to also take into account the technological capabilities of different populations.
As explained in a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , from the data obtained they have been able to determine that such a cultural gap could have existed between modern humans and Neanderthals that the former would have become extremely dominant in a very short time. even though their numbers were much smaller.
Technological innovations that accompany the development of an advanced culture favored humans to take control of natural resources . In such a scenario, survival of the Neanderthals was impossible. However, experts point out that it is not clear why the latter did not imitate the techniques and achievements of Homo sapiens .
Image: Randii Oliver / NASA
