DISCUSSION TOPIC: OF NEANDERTHALS AND HOBBITS

Some Questions

• How has our understanding of Neanderthals been revised in recent years?

• What are the various theories about why Neanderthals went extinct?  Why did one kind of human survive and the other disappear?  What are the implications of this debate?

• What is the evidence in regards to possible interbreeding between homo sapiens and Neanderthals?  What is the evidence in regards to possible violence involving homo sapiens and Neanderthals?  What are the possible implications here?

• Who are the Hobbits and what is most interesting about their story?  What controversies have divided scholars and what is the significance of these debates?

• How might you link Neanderthals and Hobbits?

• What does it mean to be human and what can prehistory contribute to this discussion?

Neanderthals And Hobbits: Starting Places

•   Cameron Balbirnie, "The Icy Truth Behind Neanderthals," BBC News, February 10, 2005.

•   Stephen S. Hall, "Last Of The Neanderthals: Eurasia Was Theirs Alone For 200,000 Years -- Then The Newcomers Arrived," National Geographic (October 2008).

•   "Q & A: Indonesian Hominid Find," BBC News, October 27, 2004.

•   John Noble Wilford, "Debate Over 'Little People' Intensifies After Recent Island Discovery," New York Times, March 18, 2008.

• Wikipedia -- Homo Floresiensis:  An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.

Neanderthals In The News

•   Paul Rincon, "Did Climate Kill Off the Neanderthals?," BBC News, February 13, 2009.

• James Morgan, "Neanderthals 'Distinct From Us,'" BBC News, February 12, 2009.

• Mason Inman, "Neanderthal Genome 'First Draft' Unveiled," National Geographic News, February 12, 2009.

•   John Roach, "Neanderthals Ate Dolphins, Seals, Cave Remains Suggest," National Geographic News, September 22, 2008.

•   Kate Ravilious, "Neanderthals Grew Fast, But Sexual Maturity Came Late," National Geographic News, September 8, 2008.

•   "'Complexity' Of Neanderthal Tools," BBC News, August 26, 2008.

•   Ker Than, "Neanderthals Didn't Mate With Modern Humans, Study Says," National Geographic News, August 12, 2008.

•   Mati Milstein, "Neandertals Had Big Mouths, Gaped Widely," National Geographic News, May 2, 2008.

•   Sara Goudarzi, "Neandertals Ate Their Veggies, Tooth Study Shows," National Geographic News, April 28, 2008.

•   Paul Rincon, "Neanderthals 'Were Flame Haired,'" BBC News, October 25, 2007.

•   Mason Inman, "Neandertals Had Same 'Language Gene' As Modern Humans," National Geographic News, October 18, 2007.

• Kate Ravilious, "Neandertals Ranged Much Farther East Than Thought," National Geographic News, October 1, 2007.

•   Rebecca Morelle, "Neanderthal Climate Link Debated," BBC News, September 13, 2007.

•   Paul Rincon, "Freeze 'Condemned Neanderthals," BBC News, February 20, 2007.

•   Stefan Lovgren, "Sex-Based Roles Gave Modern Humans An Edge, Study Says," National Geographic News, December 7, 2006.

•   James Owen, "Neandertals Turned To Cannibalism, Bone Cave Suggests," National Geographic News, December 5, 2006.

• Paul Rincon, "Neanderthal DNA Secrets Unlocked," BBC News, November 15, 2006.

• James Owen, "Neandertals, Modern Humans Interbred, Bone Study Suggests," National Geographic News, October 30, 2006.

•   Elizabeth Svoboda, "Neandertal Gene Study Reveals Early Split With Humans," National Geographic News, October 26, 2006.

• Paul Rincon, "Neanderthals 'Last Rock Refuge,'" BBC News, September 13, 2006.

• John Roach, "Neandertals' Last Stand Was In Gibraltar, Study Suggests," National Geographic News, September 13, 2006.

•   Ann Parson, "Neandertals Hunted As Well As Humans, Study Says," National Geographic News, January 25, 2006.

• James Owen, "Neandertals Beaten By Rivals' Work Skills, Study Says," National Geographic News, November 24, 2004.

• Hillary Mayell, "Climate Change Killed Neanderthals, Study Says," National Geographic News, February 9, 2004.

•   Paul Rincon, "Neanderthals 'Not Close Family,'" BBC News, January 27, 2004.

•   Jonathan Amos, "Neanderthal 'Face' Found In Loire," BBC News, December 2, 2003.

•   "Blow To Neanderthal Breeding Theory," BBC News, May 13, 2003.

• "Neanderthals 'Had Hands Like Ours,'" BBC News, March 27, 2003.

• Hillary Mayell, "Did Neanderthals Lack Smarts To Survive?," National Geographic News, March 6, 2003.

•   "New Evidence of Neanderthal Violence," BBC News, April 22, 2002.

• Ben Harder, "Did Humans And Neanderthals Battle For Control Of The Middle East?," National Geographic News, March 8, 2002.

•   "Neanderthals 'Used Glue To Make Tools,'" BBC News, January 19, 2002.

•   "Meet The Neanderthals," BBC News, August 2, 2001.

•   "DNA Clues To Neanderthals," BBC News, October 11, 2000.

•   "Taste For Flesh Troubled Neanderthals," BBC News, June 12, 2000.

•   "Neanderthals Not Human Ancestors," BBC News, March 29, 2000.

• "Neanderthals Survived Longer Than Thought," BBC News, October 26, 1999.

• "Neanderthals Were Cannibals," BBC News, October 1, 1999.

• "Neanderthals 'Mated With Modern Humans,'" BBC News, April 21, 1999.

• David Perlman, "Neanderthals Were Built To Talk: Fossil Study Finds Vocal Capability Like That Of Humans," San Francisco Chronicle, April 28, 1998.

Neanderthals: Articles

• Steve Olson, "Neanderthal Man," Smithsonian (October 2006).

• Joe Alper, "Rethinking Neanderthals," Smithsonian (June 2003).

Neanderthals: Web-Sites

• "Ice People -- 200,000 Years Ago," BBC Science and Nature.

• Wikipedia -- Neanderthal:  An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.

Neanderthals: Audio Sources

•   "The Fate Of The Neanderthal Species," Day To Day, February 5, 2004.

Hobbits In The News

•   John Roach, "'Hobbits' Not Good Runners; Proof Of New Human Species?," National Geographic News, May 8, 2009.

•   Mark Tran, "Indonesian 'Hobbits' Were Distinct Human Species, Says Researchers," Guardian, May 7, 2009.

• "Hobbits 'Are A Separate Species,'" BBC News, May 6, 2009.

•   John Noble Wilford, "A First Look At The Bones Of A 'Hobbit,'" New York Times, April 20, 2009.

• John Roach, "'Hobbits' Were Separate Species, Skull Suggests," National Geographic News, January 23, 2009.

• John Roach, "Ancient Bones Of Small Humans Discovered In Palau," National Geographic News, March 10, 2008.

•   John Roach, "'Hobbit' Humans Were Diseased Cretins, Study Suggests," National Geographic News, March 6, 2008.

•   John Roach, "'Hobbits' May Have Been Genetic Mutants," National Geographic News, January 3, 2008.

• "New Research Sheds Light On 'Hobbit' -- Smithsonian-Led Study Published In Science," Smithsonian News, September 20, 2007.

•   "'Hobbit' Wrists 'Were Primitive,'" BBC News, September 20, 2007.

•   "'Hobbit' Human 'Is A New Species,'" BBC News, January 29, 2007.

•   John Roach, "'Hobbit' Was Own Species, Not Diseased Human, Brain Study Says," National Geographic News, January 29, 2007.

•   Helen Briggs, "New Twist In 'Hobbit' Human Story," BBC News, May 31, 2006.

• John Roach, "'Hobbit' Island Tools Predate Modern Humans, Study Says," National Geographic News, May 31, 2006.

• Paul Rincon, "'Hobbit' Stirs Scientific Clash," BBC News, May 19, 2006.

•   Paul Rincon, "Team Widens Search For 'Hobbits,'" BBC News, October 14, 2005.

• Brian Handwerk, "New 'Hobbit' Human Bones Add To Evidence, Oddity," National Geographic News, October 12, 2005.

•   "More Flores 'Hobbits' Described," BBC News, October 11, 2005.

• David Wilkinson, "'What Does It Mean To Be Human?,'" BBC News Magazine, November 1, 2004.

• Desmond Morris, "Eton Or The Zoo?," BBC News, October 29, 2004.

•   "'Hobbit' Joins Human Family Tree," BBC News, October 27, 2004.

• Hillary Mayell, "Hobbit-Like Human Ancestor Found In Asia," National Geographic News, October 27, 2004.

Hobbits: Articles

• Tabitha M. Powledge, "What Is The Hobbit?," Public Library Of Science Biology (December 12, 2006).

Hobbits: Web-Sites

• Homo Floresiensis -- The Hobbit:

Hobbits: Audio Sources

•   "Pick Of The Week: Hobbit Bones," NPR Talk Of The Nation, May 8, 2009.

•   "Ancient, Tiny Humans Shed New Light On Evolution," NPR All Things Considered, October 27, 2004.