Neandertal Climbers?

Seeing the story going around in the news news.discovery.com/human/ev…
How do you think a Neanderthal baby’s chances of being a good climber would be? I would think they would be very good. They were very strong and probably had quick reflexes
I could totally see this guy fitting in at the crag, or even more at the boulder field.

Any adventurous climbing women out there?

cavemen probly have a sick ape index.

The Neanderthal does have Sharma's hair style.

I remember reading somewhere that Neanderhals had better procedural memory than H sapiens, that is their non-verbal movement skills were more advanced. Conclusion was based on their skill manufacturing stone tools. I also recall that there is a small but finite amount of Neanderthal DNA in modern human genomes. Maybe more in some climbers than others?

With a larger than human cranial capacity, a neanderthal would probably be smart enough to either get a job or find an activity that pays more than climbing.

huber brothers.

They likely had the temperament and weren't risk adverse. I recall a NatGeo article reporting a high correlation of the types of injuries seen on Neanderthal skeletal remains with those typically sustained by modern rodeo riders.

I think this is pretty relevant:

High-pitch voiced Neanderthals on BBC

"5.12...so easy even a caveman can do it"

Mark E Dixon wrote:I remember reading somewhere that Neanderhals had better procedural memory than H sapiens, that is their non-verbal movement skills were more advanced. Conclusion was based on their skill manufacturing stone tools. I also recall that there is a small but finite amount of Neanderthal DNA in modern human genomes. Maybe more in some climbers than others?

I wouldn't necessarily jump to that conclusion right away. Homo sapien neanderthalensis was adapted to the climate of Europe so modern European populations exhibit more genetic similarities to our closest ancestors. According to a NOVA doc I watched recently they said African populations had <1% genetic similarity, Asian populations had 1-2% and European populations had around 3% ( pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution…)

Also according to that doc most of the genetic traits we homo sapien sapiens picked up from neanderthals were the specialty immune systems for Europe.

So it makes sense that Europeans would have immune systems better adapted to their climate.

I didn't mean to get all over-intellectual and rambling on your musings, I just wanted to point out that it'd be a dangerous road to walk down claiming neanderthal DNA could make a better climber because it would basically be tantamount to saying Europeans (read: white people) are better climbers.

I say he has the look of a great 'rope gun' written all over his face.

Benjamin A Gappa wrote: I just wanted to point out that it'd be a dangerous road to walk down claiming neanderthal DNA could make a better climber because it would basically be tantamount to saying Europeans (read: white people) are better climbers.

Wow, I guess I am Mr Insensitive after all!

Anyway we all know that European climbers suck, esp Ondra, Steck, etc.

Kirby wrote:I think this is pretty relevant: High-pitch voiced Neanderthals on BBC

Oh my God! You think it is bad now? Imagine a crowded crag with everyone speaking like that. Ladies, please don't incubate any Neanderthal kids.