Further evidence, it seems, that Neanderthals were not our
ancestors.

Todd Moody
[log in to unmask]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Scientists discover Neanderthal remains in Germany
Copyright © 2002
Agence France-Presse

BONN, Germany (September 9, 2002 1:15 p.m. EDT) ­ Researchers have
identified the 42,000-year-old bone fragments of two Neanderthals in the
western German valley that gave rise to the species' name.

The remnants - a child's tooth and five fragments of an adult's right arm
including both elbows - were found in the Neander valley near Dusseldorf.

They were discovered in the same grotto that a first partial skeleton was
unearthed in 1856, reshaping modern man's view of evolution and giving rise
to the term Neanderthal, Tal being the German word for valley.

Carbon dating shows the remains are around 42,000 years old, according to
Ralf Schmitz of Tuebingen University.

He said that in contrast to the 1856 fragments, the adult bones this time
appeared to be more fragile and were possibly that of a woman, while the
tooth seemed to have come from a child aged around 12.

However, he said it was unlikely all three Neanderthals were related. "They
could be centuries apart."

Schmitz said analysis of the bone fragments showed no genetic similarities
with modern man, confirming the theory that modern humans are not descended
from Neanderthals.