-Caveat Lector- So much for rugged individualism... "The Nature article said that despite their 'armored car' build, the Neanderthals became extinct because they failed to look after each other, whereas their weaker cousins, the descendants of modern man, were more social and were forced to depend on each other for survival." ============================================================== Pre-Neanderthal pelvis suggests brain prevailed over brawn May 21, 1999 Web posted at: 3:09 p.m. EDT (1909 GMT) MADRID, Spain (AP) -- The ancestors of the Neanderthals were taller and heavier than previously thought, leading scientists to speculate that brawn over brains may have contributed to their extinction. Anthropologists from Madrid's Complutense University reached their conclusions after a five-year study of a 300,000-year-old fossil pelvis. The pelvis was put together from fragments found in 1994 in the key Atapuerca caves in northern Spain, according to the study published Thursday in the journal Nature. Complete pelvis fossils, which are quite rare, provide detailed information about the person as a whole, including dimensions, reproduction and locomotion. Team director Juan Luis Arsuaga told the daily El Mundo that the pelvis belonged to a pre-Neanderthal male between 1.73 to 1.80 meters (about 6 feet) tall who weighed at least 100 kilograms (about 220 pounds). Arsuaga, co-author of the study, said the width of the pelvis suggested that pre-Neanderthals suffered far less pain giving birth than their direct descendants, or modern humans. The pelvis belongs to an ancestor of the classic Neanderthals that date from between 100,000 and 35,000 years ago, when they died out, Antonio Rosas told the Associated Press. Rosas is an expert in prehistoric jaw bones who has also worked at Atapuerca. "It is undoubtedly the most complete pelvis ever found from the period and an important contribution to the field," Rosas said. The Nature article said that despite their "armored car" build, the Neanderthals became extinct because they failed to look after each other, whereas their weaker cousins, the descendants of modern man, were more social and were forced to depend on each other for survival. As adults, the Atapuerca hominids had smaller brains than modern humans relative to body mass, adding to the brawn-over-brain theory. The prehistoric remains were first discovered in the Atapuerca cave in 1976, with full scale excavation begun in 1984. It is one of the world's best prehistoric sites, and is the most important from the middle-plaestecine era that began about 780,000 years ago and lasted for 660,000 years, Rosas said. Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ================================= Robert F. Tatman [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Remove "nospam" from the address to reply. NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml POSTING THIS MESSAGE TO THE INTERNET DOES NOT IMPLY PERMISSION TO SEND UNSOLICITED COMMERCIAL E-MAIL (SPAM) TO THIS OR ANY OTHER INTERNET ADDRESS. RECEIPT OF SPAM WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION OF THE SENDER'S ISP. ____________________________________________________________________ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape WebMail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
