Earth Science in the News Blog: Volcanoes effects on Neanderthals
Sindya Bhanoo’s article “Neanderthals Big Loss in the Battle of the Elements” puts forth an interesting theory regarding the extinction of Neanderthals (Bhanoo). Bhanoo suggests that volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago whipped out the Neanderthal population in Europe (Bhanoo). Anthropologist Naomi Cleghorn from the University of Texas at Arlington identified volcanic ash from two separate eruptions that occurred in the area between 45,000 and 40,000 years ago at a site in south western Russia (Bhanoo). Another study found that another large volcanic eruption occurred in Italy 40,000 years ago (Bhanoo). Our own species would not have been affected by these volcanoes because homo sapiens were most located in Africa and southern Europe as opposed to Neanderthals who were primarily located in Asia and northern Europe (Bhanoo). Naomi Cleghorn said “ Early Modern Humans, if any of them were on the affected landscape, had a replenishment population elsewhere” (Bhanoo) . Approximately 2000 years after the volcanic eruption humans began to start in habiting the affected regions (Bhanoo). According to Naomi Cleghorn a weather related demise is far more likely than a competition of wits between humans and Neanderthals(Bhanoo).
This article directly relates to the course in a few different ways. One way this subject relates to the course is the article shows how geological events like the volcanoes in the article can possibly change the course of history for mankind. Another way this article relates to our course is how the anthropologists were able to tell the time of the eruption just by looking at the ash the volcano left.
I personally think that this article is pretty fascinating. The possibility that our entire species could have been extinct by one of these volcanoes is incredible and at the same time frightening. The wide spread destruction that a few volcanic eruptions really shows how important it is to keep studying active and dormant volcanoes so we are able to detect and prepare for the next big eruption. If we don’t prepare it very well could be the end of our species just like the Neanderthals.
Works Citied
Bhanoo, Sindya N. "Neanderthals’ Big Loss in Battle of the Elements."Http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/science/05obneanderthal.html?_r=1&ref=volcanoes. 4 Oct. 2010. Web. 14 Nov. 2010.
