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Evidence that Neanderthal and Homo sapiens engaged in cultural exchange

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Re: Evidence that Neanderthal and Homo sapiens engaged in cultural exchange

#41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Also look at how violent humans are to their own species. Species is a construct though, our genes have no idea about species. Also I think that organisms feel most threatened by same-niche competitors, and least threatened by non-competitors. Similar but just different enough is like the worst case in terms of same-niche competition. Like how geese and ducks will act really adversarial towards each other, and then…

> Species is a construct though, our genes have no idea about species. You could also say that atoms are a construct, also molecules and nuclei. Nature has no concept of any of those. But the clumping is repeatable enough at everyday energies so that it's useful to think about it in those terms.

> You could also say that atoms are a construct, also molecules and nuclei.

You could say it, but they are real things that interact with the environment. DNA is a real thing that interacts with the environment.

Species, the periodic table, etc. are constructs. They are useful because they help us understand the world.

Re: Evidence that Neanderthal and Homo sapiens engaged in cultural exchange

#42
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are indicators, for example, the neanderthals and all other human like great apes have mysteriously disappeared except for us. (Or gotten assimilated, I mean, we have a tiny bit neanderthal DNA) Check out killer ape theory. Also look at how violent humans are to their own species.

So no evidence, just more of the cutting edge, widely followed, paper-thin theory of inevitable evil. > There are indicators, for example, the neanderthals and all other human like great apes have mysteriously disappeared except for us. (Or gotten assimilated, I mean, we have a tiny bit neanderthal DNA) That's not an indication at all. It's an outcome. > Also look at how violent humans are to their own species. Human…

I think our growth to 8 billion was a consequence of technology advancement rather than our acceptance of each other. While I don't disagree with the parent that humans do exterminate each other, they seem to be also keen to assimilate the other into their "own" line.

Re: Evidence that Neanderthal and Homo sapiens engaged in cultural exchange

#43
post #42
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So no evidence, just more of the cutting edge, widely followed, paper-thin theory of inevitable evil. > There are indicators, for example, the neanderthals and all other human like great apes have mysteriously disappeared except for us. (Or gotten assimilated, I mean, we have a tiny bit neanderthal DNA) That's not an indication at all. It's an outcome. > Also look at how violent humans are to their own species. Human…

I think our growth to 8 billion was a consequence of technology advancement rather than our acceptance of each other. While I don't disagree with the parent that humans do exterminate each other, they seem to be also keen to assimilate the other into their "own" line.

Also, we are more peaceful species now, than 40 000 years ago.

Re: Evidence that Neanderthal and Homo sapiens engaged in cultural exchange

#44
post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Plunder/Raping raids What are you referring to? Is there evidence of that being most of the way they interacted?

There are indicators, for example, the neanderthals and all other human like great apes have mysteriously disappeared except for us. (Or gotten assimilated, I mean, we have a tiny bit neanderthal DNA) Check out killer ape theory. Also look at how violent humans are to their own species.

"Tiny" is understating it, given that 2% of my genome is Neanderthal.

Re: Evidence that Neanderthal and Homo sapiens engaged in cultural exchange

#45

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-025-02110-y/figures/3 The link has images of some of the tools they found. Do you think we could teach a Neanderthal to code?

It's entirely possible that they were more intelligent in some ways than contemporary Homo Sapiens. How they were overwhelmed is open to question. Perhaps just numerically - they were adapted for cold environments and may have been less fecund.

Re: Evidence that Neanderthal and Homo sapiens engaged in cultural exchange

#46
post #42
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So no evidence, just more of the cutting edge, widely followed, paper-thin theory of inevitable evil. > There are indicators, for example, the neanderthals and all other human like great apes have mysteriously disappeared except for us. (Or gotten assimilated, I mean, we have a tiny bit neanderthal DNA) That's not an indication at all. It's an outcome. > Also look at how violent humans are to their own species. Human…

I think our growth to 8 billion was a consequence of technology advancement rather than our acceptance of each other. While I don't disagree with the parent that humans do exterminate each other, they seem to be also keen to assimilate the other into their "own" line.

Maybe, but our tech advancement could only happen because of our acceptance of others and of cooperation. And I have not seen any evidence that neandertals and sapiens considered themselves that different, this is just an assumed thing from our limited knowledge.

Re: Evidence that Neanderthal and Homo sapiens engaged in cultural exchange

#47
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think our growth to 8 billion was a consequence of technology advancement rather than our acceptance of each other. While I don't disagree with the parent that humans do exterminate each other, they seem to be also keen to assimilate the other into their "own" line.

Also, we are more peaceful species now, than 40 000 years ago.

On what do you based that? (Genuinely interested)

Re: Evidence that Neanderthal and Homo sapiens engaged in cultural exchange

#48
post #45

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-025-02110-y/figures/3 The link has images of some of the tools they found. Do you think we could teach a Neanderthal to code?

It's entirely possible that they were more intelligent in some ways than contemporary Homo Sapiens. How they were overwhelmed is open to question. Perhaps just numerically - they were adapted for cold environments and may have been less fecund.

I’ve also seen estimates that Neanderthals required 2x-5x more calories per day than us, which translates into 2x-5x less population density. That’s one way to get overwhelmed.

Re: Evidence that Neanderthal and Homo sapiens engaged in cultural exchange

#49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Plunder/Raping raids don't necessarilyead to trading and meaningful conversations do they?

You have be able to communicate with your slaves.

It’s highly unlikely that a small nomadic hunter-gatherer band would have had the food surplus and hierarchical organization needed to control and keep slaves.

It’s as likely that ancient humans outcompeted Neanderthals for resources as killed them off directly.

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