Archaeological finds in Israel have shed new light on the
role of the Neanderthal in human evolution. Remains of some 400 Neanderthal
individuals have been found throughout Europe and in western Asia, dating from
between 120,000 and 40,000 years ago. For many years, scientists had believed
that either modem humans replaced Neanderthals, out-competing them because of
superior intelligence, or that Neanderthals evolved into modem humans. The evidence
from the Israel site suggests that modem-type humans coexisted with Neanderthals,
possibly for as long as 50,000 years. The evidence also raises questions about interaction,
cooperation, competition, and communication between these anatomically different
humans.
Another important new discovery about Neanderthals was also
made in Israel. At Kebara Cave was found the first well-preserved specimen of a
Neanderthal hyoid bone --part of the structure of the throat used for speech.
Scientists long had debated whether or not Neanderthals could speak, with part
of the argument resting on anatomical differences between Neanderthals and Homo
sapiens sapiens. The Neanderthal hyoid's similarity to the hyoid in
modem humans would seem to imply a Neanderthal capability to make sounds
similar to those of modem humans. (Funk & Wagnalls new Encyclopedia of
Science Yearbook)
