Professor Chris Stringer

Yes, that's right. So at the moment, looking at radiocarbon dates on Neanderthal sites and where we have Neanderthal archaeology, at least in Europe, it's very difficult to find good evidence of them after 40,000 years ago. Now, we can't say the same as we go further east because the record is much less well dated. So in Iraq, they're around probably until 45,000 years ago, possibly younger.

Yes, that's right. So at the moment, looking at radiocarbon dates on Neanderthal sites and where we have Neanderthal archaeology, at least in Europe, it's very difficult to find good evidence of them after 40,000 years ago. Now, we can't say the same as we go further east because the record is much less well dated. So in Iraq, they're around probably until 45,000 years ago, possibly younger.

And even further east, I mentioned they were in Siberia, places like that. We don't have a good fix on how late they went in some of those other regions. So it's possible they extended and survived further east later. It's also possible that they died out across their range in quite a short time, around 40,000. We're not certain of that at the moment.

And even further east, I mentioned they were in Siberia, places like that. We don't have a good fix on how late they went in some of those other regions. So it's possible they extended and survived further east later. It's also possible that they died out across their range in quite a short time, around 40,000. We're not certain of that at the moment.

And even further east, I mentioned they were in Siberia, places like that. We don't have a good fix on how late they went in some of those other regions. So it's possible they extended and survived further east later. It's also possible that they died out across their range in quite a short time, around 40,000. We're not certain of that at the moment.

Yes. It's always difficult to estimate numbers. Obviously, we've got archaeological sites where you can attempt to estimate numbers. But the genetic data suggests, as I mentioned, that they were low in diversity in that period between 40 and 60,000. They were low in diversity, but we do have surviving Neanderthal DNA evidence of it that comes from earlier sites.

Yes. It's always difficult to estimate numbers. Obviously, we've got archaeological sites where you can attempt to estimate numbers. But the genetic data suggests, as I mentioned, that they were low in diversity in that period between 40 and 60,000. They were low in diversity, but we do have surviving Neanderthal DNA evidence of it that comes from earlier sites.

Yes. It's always difficult to estimate numbers. Obviously, we've got archaeological sites where you can attempt to estimate numbers. But the genetic data suggests, as I mentioned, that they were low in diversity in that period between 40 and 60,000. They were low in diversity, but we do have surviving Neanderthal DNA evidence of it that comes from earlier sites.

And that suggests they were more diverse 100,000 years ago. now that's the last interglacial i mean the last interglacial the warmest stage was about 120 125 000 years ago when it was as warm or maybe even slightly warmer than today where we're coming back to those temperatures now of course unfortunately you know with global warming but That was a warm period.

And that suggests they were more diverse 100,000 years ago. now that's the last interglacial i mean the last interglacial the warmest stage was about 120 125 000 years ago when it was as warm or maybe even slightly warmer than today where we're coming back to those temperatures now of course unfortunately you know with global warming but That was a warm period.

And that suggests they were more diverse 100,000 years ago. now that's the last interglacial i mean the last interglacial the warmest stage was about 120 125 000 years ago when it was as warm or maybe even slightly warmer than today where we're coming back to those temperatures now of course unfortunately you know with global warming but That was a warm period.

And interestingly, the Neanderthals actually thrived. Although, as I say, we think of them as cold adapted. Actually, that could have been their peak time in terms of numbers. Probably there were large numbers of Neanderthals 120,000 years ago.

And interestingly, the Neanderthals actually thrived. Although, as I say, we think of them as cold adapted. Actually, that could have been their peak time in terms of numbers. Probably there were large numbers of Neanderthals 120,000 years ago.

And interestingly, the Neanderthals actually thrived. Although, as I say, we think of them as cold adapted. Actually, that could have been their peak time in terms of numbers. Probably there were large numbers of Neanderthals 120,000 years ago.

And then after that, with the decrease of suitable environments, with the decrease in temperatures, their numbers may have shrunk and their ranges perhaps shrank as well.

And then after that, with the decrease of suitable environments, with the decrease in temperatures, their numbers may have shrunk and their ranges perhaps shrank as well.

And then after that, with the decrease of suitable environments, with the decrease in temperatures, their numbers may have shrunk and their ranges perhaps shrank as well.

Yes. So when we look at modern species that are threatened, of course, we think of, you know, particular groups of tigers, particular populations of elephants, populations of gorillas. Some of these are very threatened. They're low in number and they're low in diversity. And once a population gets down to a few thousand, it really is at risk from diseases, from very rapid climate change.

Yes. So when we look at modern species that are threatened, of course, we think of, you know, particular groups of tigers, particular populations of elephants, populations of gorillas. Some of these are very threatened. They're low in number and they're low in diversity. And once a population gets down to a few thousand, it really is at risk from diseases, from very rapid climate change.

Yes. So when we look at modern species that are threatened, of course, we think of, you know, particular groups of tigers, particular populations of elephants, populations of gorillas. Some of these are very threatened. They're low in number and they're low in diversity. And once a population gets down to a few thousand, it really is at risk from diseases, from very rapid climate change.