Re: Speciation - how do you know?
Paul Crowley (Paul@crowleyp.demon.co.uk)
Sat, 12 Oct 96 20:02:25 GMT
In article <53irrf$jo2@dfw-ixnews6.ix.netcom.com>
hobgot@ix.netcom.com(Robert "Robert Gotschall" writes:
> You and many others have remarked on
> how heavily built the Neanderthal people were. I can't but wonder if
> all this musculature was necessary just to collect roots and berries.
Do male gorillas have all that musculature just to gather leaves?
IMHO Neanderthal musculature probably resulted from intra-species
competition. If the weaponry was not particularly advanced
(i.e. little in the way of throwing spears) combat would have
been hand-to-hand, where muscles count. The powerful anatomy
might also have been for protection against predators, although
I can't visualise how.
Paul.
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