The authors critique various assumptions made by others about Neanderthal lifeways by showing that Neanderthal births would be impossible under these conditions.
3. Lessons learned
There are a large number of potential lessons to be learned here. Principle among them is that researchers should consider the possibility that previous models have, to one degree or another:
- Under-appreciated the Neanderthals’ abilities to regulate body temperature;
- Under-appreciated the Neanderthals’ abilities to efficiently hunt terrestrial animals;
- Under-appreciated the degree of sexual division of labor within Neanderthal groups generally, and for pregnant and lactating women, specifically;
- Under-appreciated the amount of non-mammal foods eaten by Neanderthals, such as fish, shellfish, insects, birds and eggs;
- Under-appreciated the amount of plant foods eaten by Neanderthals;
- Under-appreciated the differences in metabolic processing of essential nutrients such as protein between Neanderthals and modern humans;
- Under-appreciated the role of micronutrient deficiencies to Neanderthal extinction;
- Exaggerated the degree of mobility in the average Neanderthal group compared to modern hunting-gathering societies; and
- Exaggerated the degree of close-encounter, dangerous hunting techniques that Neanderthal women participated in.
