The Neandertals: Of Skeletons, Scientists, and Scandal

The Neandertals: Of Skeletons, Scientists, and Scandal

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As a fierce debate rages around the question of whether Neanderthals are the ancestors of modern people, Erik Trinkaus and Pat Shipman begin their book by taking us back to 1856, when the first known remains of a Neanderthal were found in Germany. The authors provide a fascinating history of the science surrounding these mysterious people and the legends that have grown up around them. The Neandertals (most scientists have dropped the H from the name, but popular culture has not yet followed suit) is rich with stories and characters. It reveals much of what we know about the prehistoric past (the last Neanderthal probably died 25,000 years ago), as well as how contemporary biases influence the way we interpret this history.