Professor Chris Stringer

from some kind of exploitation, some kind of competition can tip them over the edge to extinction. So we're aware of that today with people trying to save some of the last rhinos, for example, in certain areas. Well, the Neanderthals, probably in their last 20,000 years, we could say that they probably were a threatened species in the same way. They were low in numbers and low in diversity.

from some kind of exploitation, some kind of competition can tip them over the edge to extinction. So we're aware of that today with people trying to save some of the last rhinos, for example, in certain areas. Well, the Neanderthals, probably in their last 20,000 years, we could say that they probably were a threatened species in the same way. They were low in numbers and low in diversity.

from some kind of exploitation, some kind of competition can tip them over the edge to extinction. So we're aware of that today with people trying to save some of the last rhinos, for example, in certain areas. Well, the Neanderthals, probably in their last 20,000 years, we could say that they probably were a threatened species in the same way. They were low in numbers and low in diversity.

That's bad for the gene pool, of course, because if you've got low variation, you may get a buildup of what you can, in simple terms, bad mutations may build up in the gene pool. It also limits your ability to adapt genetically to changing conditions if you've got low numbers and low diversity.

That's bad for the gene pool, of course, because if you've got low variation, you may get a buildup of what you can, in simple terms, bad mutations may build up in the gene pool. It also limits your ability to adapt genetically to changing conditions if you've got low numbers and low diversity.

That's bad for the gene pool, of course, because if you've got low variation, you may get a buildup of what you can, in simple terms, bad mutations may build up in the gene pool. It also limits your ability to adapt genetically to changing conditions if you've got low numbers and low diversity.

So it was bad news for them, and possibly they were already a species in trouble by 60,000 years ago, even before Homo sapiens made a significant impact on them.

So it was bad news for them, and possibly they were already a species in trouble by 60,000 years ago, even before Homo sapiens made a significant impact on them.

So it was bad news for them, and possibly they were already a species in trouble by 60,000 years ago, even before Homo sapiens made a significant impact on them.

Yes, rapid climate change have probably been pruning their numbers. So the climate from about 100,000 years ago, the climate in Europe was fluctuating dramatically. Every few thousand years, it fluctuated from nearly as warm as today to bitterly cold. And that happened over and over again every few thousand years.

Yes, rapid climate change have probably been pruning their numbers. So the climate from about 100,000 years ago, the climate in Europe was fluctuating dramatically. Every few thousand years, it fluctuated from nearly as warm as today to bitterly cold. And that happened over and over again every few thousand years.

Yes, rapid climate change have probably been pruning their numbers. So the climate from about 100,000 years ago, the climate in Europe was fluctuating dramatically. Every few thousand years, it fluctuated from nearly as warm as today to bitterly cold. And that happened over and over again every few thousand years.

And some of these switches in climate were very rapid, probably even in the lifetime of a single Neanderthal. They might have seen the environment that they were used to completely changing, perhaps from relatively benign woodlands and things to a glacial tundra. Or if they were adapting to cold conditions, they might see it suddenly change into much warmer conditions.

And some of these switches in climate were very rapid, probably even in the lifetime of a single Neanderthal. They might have seen the environment that they were used to completely changing, perhaps from relatively benign woodlands and things to a glacial tundra. Or if they were adapting to cold conditions, they might see it suddenly change into much warmer conditions.

And some of these switches in climate were very rapid, probably even in the lifetime of a single Neanderthal. They might have seen the environment that they were used to completely changing, perhaps from relatively benign woodlands and things to a glacial tundra. Or if they were adapting to cold conditions, they might see it suddenly change into much warmer conditions.

And that would be a challenge for them too, because they're adapted to one environment and then it rapidly changes.

And that would be a challenge for them too, because they're adapted to one environment and then it rapidly changes.

And that would be a challenge for them too, because they're adapted to one environment and then it rapidly changes.

Yeah, so, well, you really need an archaeologist to answer that one properly. But from my point of view, yeah, we know that the Neanderthals were capable technologically.

Yeah, so, well, you really need an archaeologist to answer that one properly. But from my point of view, yeah, we know that the Neanderthals were capable technologically.