Were Neanderthals stoned to death by modern humans?

[oranphil]

Hey have you read this article from new scientist this sound typical of the modern man:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16091-were-neanderthals-stoned-to-death-by-modern-humans.html

[Flashman]

Interesting...

 

Something that occurs to me though, is wondering if the anatomical changes in sapiens specimens represent a re-adaption to using the arm overhead. If the neanderthals retained a shoulder and arm structure closer to a brachiating ape, then habitual overarm movements might not displace their bones in the same manner.

 

Although it's also curious that chimpanzees are known to throw rocks and sticks, both in hunting and to ward off attackers. The contention in this article...

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn3085-neanderthals-strongarm-tactics-revealed.html

That bone changes may be caused by performing an action as little as once a week, makes one wonder why some rotation of the humerus has not been observed in other older hominidae if such overarm throwing was as "natural" in them as it is in modern chimps.

[marnixR]

why would you make the leap from being able to throw weapons to the conclusion that H.sapiens may have thrown rocks at H.neanderthalensis ?

 

on the other hand, i can see how the ability to throw rocks or spears efficiently might be of survival value whilst hunting - if it is true that neanderthals were not good throwers they would have to come a lot closer to their prey to go for the kill, which could well have led to more injuries and fatalities during a neanderthal hunt than a sapiens hunt