>  The Neanderthal were plagued by
> osteoarthritis, and they were probably as paleo as we are likely
> to get.">>

Neanderthals exhibited many kinds of injuries associated with rodeo
performers including fractures and joint injuries.  Because they had
no
dogs, they had to hold their prey at bay using heavy spears and stone
clubs.
They also had heavier muscles than do most modern Humans.  Their
resulting
higher resting metabolic rate made it more difficult for them to store
fat
as many modern humans do.

When Neanderthals became Modern Man and wolves became dogs, both
species
became more gracile (NeanderThin).  Dogs no longer had to be capable
of
making the kill and Man no longer had to hold the game at bay.
Lighter,
long-range weapons were now useful in hunting for the first time
resulting
in far fewer injuries.  A less muscular man could also store fat much
more
quickly than a Neanderthal - an important consideration as the
megafauna
game migrated northward during warming spells which would destress
Neanderthal populations.

Ray Audette
Author "NeanderThin"
http://www.neanderthin.com