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How Humans and Their Dogs Drove Neanderthals to Extinction: A Long, Bloody History

Cristian Cox

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Published in The Invaders: How Humans And Their Dogs Drove Neanderthals To Extinction

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Neanderthals, our closest evolutionary cousins, disappeared from the face of the Earth around 40,000 years ago. For a long time, scientists believed that Neanderthals were simply outcompeted by modern humans, who were more technologically advanced and had a larger population. However, recent research suggests that dogs may have played a significant role in the Neanderthals' extinction.

The Invaders: How Humans and Their Dogs Drove Neanderthals to Extinction

by Pat Shipman

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	283 pages

Dogs as Pests

Dogs were first domesticated from wolves in Eurasia around 15,000 years ago. By the time modern humans arrived in Europe, dogs were already well-established members of human societies. Neanderthals, on the other hand, had never domesticated dogs.

Initially, Neanderthals likely viewed dogs as pests. Dogs would have scavenged Neanderthal food and garbage, and they may have even attacked Neanderthal children. As a result, Neanderthals would have had little reason to tolerate dogs.

Dogs as Tools

However, modern humans saw dogs differently. Dogs were valuable tools for hunting, and they could also be used to guard camps and defend against predators. As modern humans spread into Europe, they brought their dogs with them.

Dogs quickly became a major advantage for modern humans in their competition with Neanderthals. Dogs could help humans track down prey, and they could also help humans kill prey. In addition, dogs could help humans defend their territory from Neanderthals.

Competition and Disease

The competition between modern humans and Neanderthals was intense. Both groups were competing for the same resources, and both groups were fighting for survival. Dogs gave modern humans a significant advantage in this competition.

In addition to competition, disease may have also played a role in the Neanderthals' extinction. Dogs can carry diseases that are deadly to humans, and it is possible that dogs transmitted these diseases to Neanderthals.

The Final Blow

The final blow to the Neanderthals may have come around 40,000 years ago, when a major volcanic eruption in Italy spewed ash into the atmosphere and caused a global cooling event. This cooling event made it difficult for both modern humans and Neanderthals to survive. However, modern humans had dogs to help them adapt to the changing climate, while Neanderthals did not.

As a result, modern humans were able to survive the cooling event, while Neanderthals died out. Dogs played a significant role in this extinction event, and they helped to shape the course of human history.

The extinction of the Neanderthals is a complex and tragic story. However, the role of dogs in this extinction event is undeniable. Dogs were a major advantage for modern humans in their competition with Neanderthals, and they helped to drive Neanderthals to extinction.

A Group Of Humans And Dogs Hunting Together The Invaders: How Humans And Their Dogs Drove Neanderthals To Extinction

References

* [Dogs and the Extinction of the Neanderthals](https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/03/dogs-and-extinction-neanderthals) * [The Role of Dogs in the Extinction of the Neanderthals](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/dogs-helped-humans-drive-neanderthals-extinction) * [Dogs May Have Played a Role in the Extinction of Neanderthals](https://www.livescience.com/62493-dogs-may-have-helped-drive-neanderthals-extinct.html)

The Invaders: How Humans and Their Dogs Drove Neanderthals to Extinction

by Pat Shipman

4.2 out of 5