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Why the Neanderthals (and the Others) are Gone: An Unknown Genius Unleashed a Whirlwind
It is astonishing what researchers have discovered about our ancient past. This book would not be possible without the work being done by ancient DNA scientists such as Harvard professor Dr. David Reich. The unraveling of ancient DNA has opened a new window into our past. Our ancestors languished for a quarter million years in Africa, not unlike the Neanderthals in Europe. Progress was dull and then around 77,000 years ago something happened in South Africa that forever changed the world.
Climate cycles were frequent and extreme throughout the history of our nearest relatives in Europe, the Near East and Asia. Yet they survived hundreds of thousands of years. Recent research indicates that climatic stress played no role in the demise of the Neanderthal in the Western Mediterranean and an older study found Neanderthal extinction “did not coincide with any extreme climate events". Something other than climate must have killed the Neanderthal. That 'something other' was likely not disease in that the exchange of pathogens and genetic risks between the two species was a two-way street. Our ancestors tried multiple times to leave Africa before finally succeeding. Each time climate and disease were there to greet them and each time apparently offered no comfort. And our ancestors did not suddenly get smarter some 60 thousand years ago (DNA researchers can find no such brilliance). What is not in doubt, however, is that when our ancestors successfully left Africa 55,000 years ago they were armed with the deadliest weapon the prehistoric world would ever witness. The rest is history.
This small book is an updated and expanded version of "The Death of a Neanderthal" which is no longer available. This new title should properly be listed on Amazon as a One-Hour History Short Read. Please feel free to contact the author with any questions, comments or improvements (email address in eBook).
Climate cycles were frequent and extreme throughout the history of our nearest relatives in Europe, the Near East and Asia. Yet they survived hundreds of thousands of years. Recent research indicates that climatic stress played no role in the demise of the Neanderthal in the Western Mediterranean and an older study found Neanderthal extinction “did not coincide with any extreme climate events". Something other than climate must have killed the Neanderthal. That 'something other' was likely not disease in that the exchange of pathogens and genetic risks between the two species was a two-way street. Our ancestors tried multiple times to leave Africa before finally succeeding. Each time climate and disease were there to greet them and each time apparently offered no comfort. And our ancestors did not suddenly get smarter some 60 thousand years ago (DNA researchers can find no such brilliance). What is not in doubt, however, is that when our ancestors successfully left Africa 55,000 years ago they were armed with the deadliest weapon the prehistoric world would ever witness. The rest is history.
This small book is an updated and expanded version of "The Death of a Neanderthal" which is no longer available. This new title should properly be listed on Amazon as a One-Hour History Short Read. Please feel free to contact the author with any questions, comments or improvements (email address in eBook).
63 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 3, 2026
But Did They Really?
I learned several things from this book.
There were several examples of African populations and their development of bows, arrows, and worked arrow heads.
A list of the best tree species for making bows and arrow shafts. Information about bow use and how it found its way into widespread groups over thousands of years and archaeological digs where examples of tools and skeletal remains.
If you want an easy book, this reads like a term paper. More in depth study can be found in more scholarly books.
I learned several things from this book.
There were several examples of African populations and their development of bows, arrows, and worked arrow heads.
A list of the best tree species for making bows and arrow shafts. Information about bow use and how it found its way into widespread groups over thousands of years and archaeological digs where examples of tools and skeletal remains.
If you want an easy book, this reads like a term paper. More in depth study can be found in more scholarly books.
March 16, 2025
Too Late To Duck
Lonnie does something I have not read before. He has included only the Neanderthals, Homo Erectus, but very many of the bands of early who walked much of this earth. Not only that, but Lonnie Goff offers a substantial theory for the disappearance of the lesser prepared bands of early man. To think the tool used by Native Americans so expertly in our « Wild West » is the same tool which insured Homo Erectus’ foothold in his new world.
Lonnie does something I have not read before. He has included only the Neanderthals, Homo Erectus, but very many of the bands of early who walked much of this earth. Not only that, but Lonnie Goff offers a substantial theory for the disappearance of the lesser prepared bands of early man. To think the tool used by Native Americans so expertly in our « Wild West » is the same tool which insured Homo Erectus’ foothold in his new world.
May 6, 2026
An interesting pamphlet
The problem with Kindle books is that if you're lazy, you can mistake a pamphlet for a book. This pamphlet makes one argument for why homo sapiens out lasted the eight other branches of the homo erectus family tree, the bow and arrow. The resting leave to your reading. The prose of this brief argument is clear and solid.
The problem with Kindle books is that if you're lazy, you can mistake a pamphlet for a book. This pamphlet makes one argument for why homo sapiens out lasted the eight other branches of the homo erectus family tree, the bow and arrow. The resting leave to your reading. The prose of this brief argument is clear and solid.
December 10, 2025
I don't really know much about the subject to have a meaningful opinion. Specu0, as far as I know.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews