Robert Sandslett

The Demise of the Neandertals: a Study on Neandertal Extinction Robert Sandslett

Neandertals have puzzled scientists since the firstNeandertal was discovered in Germany in 1856. For thepast 150 years, numerous hypotheses regarding thedemise of the Neandertals have been put forward. Thisbook presents the most important of these hypotheses,their development through the history of scientificresearch, and how they can be related to the generalresearch on human evolution. Why is this topic,despite the massive research undertaken the past 150years, still dominated by diametrically opposinghypotheses, all of which base their argumentation onthe same empirical record? How can the majorscientific advances the past decades, seen in fieldsuch as radiometric dating and DNA analysis, help usprogress even further in the quest for a higherunderstanding of how the fascinating Neandertalsoriginated, lived and finally succumbed about 30 000years ago?