About 400 thousand years ago, the Neanderthals began to move through the territory of modern Europe and Western Asia. They roamed for hundreds of thousands of years, mastered new lands, and there was no reason for their disappearance. However, 45 thousand years ago, a turning point began. At the forefront of history was an invasive species, our direct ancestor homo sapiens, who left Africa and entered Europe.
The next 5 thousand years are still mysterious for modern science. In such a relatively short period, the Neanderthal completely disappeared from the face of the Earth. But the death of the species is covered with darkness. Scientists in different years have put forward various theories, most of which look, to put it mildly, improbable. However, the new discovery takes humanity one step closer to the solution.
Extinction of a species is a complex process
The extinction process is a biologically complex mechanism. Scientists sometimes cannot explain why some populations are disappearing today, let alone days that have passed tens of thousands of years ago. As we said, historians and anthropologists have put forward many theories. It has been argued that the Neanderthals were deliberately destroyed by humans in the struggle for territory and natural resources. It has been suggested that the two species have fused together, because a small fraction of Neanderthal DNA has been found in the human genome. There is speculation that climate change is to blame. Let's consider some facts.
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glacial period
This theory still had many supporters and was one of the most popular. As you know, the Neanderthals specialized in hunting large animals that lived in the ice age. When a whole historical era came to an end, animals such as mammoths and saber-toothed tigers became extinct, and with them the Neanderthals disappeared. Homo sapiens was more sophisticated in trade, allowing them to travel long distances and providing access to food and resources in times of scarcity. This well-founded hypothesis undoubtedly has a right to exist. Now, however, a theory has emerged that is reversing the idea of the extinction of our predecessors. Let's consider it in more detail.
Tropical diseases brought in from Africa
According to a joint study published in the Journal of Physical Anthropology, Homo sapiens infected Neanderthals with tropical African diseases, which accelerated the process of extinction.
Genetic evidence
This shocking theory was put forward by employees of two leading British universities: Oxford and Cambridge. The prerequisite for the discovery was evidence that infectious diseases appeared on Earth tens of thousands of years earlier. Both hominin species were easy prey for pathogenic microorganisms. In support of the hypothesis put forward, scientists examined the DNA-containing viruses found in ancient human fossils, and the DNA of the remains themselves. Thus, revolutionary conclusions were obtained.
There was a connection between both species
There was no prerequisite for enmity. On the contrary, both species could perfectly coexist and pass on genes associated with the disease to each other. If tropical viruses were transmitted from Homo sapiens to Neanderthals, it is reasonable to believe that the latter did not have any immunity to resist the mysterious ailment.
Chronic diseases weakened Neanderthals
Dr. Charlotte Howldcroft of the Cambridge Department of Biological Anthropology was one of the study participants. According to the expert, homo sapiens migrated from Africa, and pathogenic microorganisms flourished on the continent's waters. So Neanderthals "got acquainted" with tuberculosis, stomach ulcers, two types of herpes, and even tapeworms. These chronic diseases could not instantly kill the whole species, but they still managed to significantly weaken its representatives.
In this regard, more modern analogies suggest themselves. After Columbus discovered America, the colonialists brought such terrible diseases as smallpox and measles to the New World. The Indians did not have immunity to new diseases, as a result of which entire settlements died out. However, according to Dr. Howldcroft, this comparison is not accurate. In addition, Indian tribes still exist. As for the Neanderthals, they were scattered into groups, and each of them had its own enemy in the form of a hitherto unknown infection. Putting the picture together, the weakening of each group tipped the scales against the survival of the whole species. Their immunity was never able to adapt to the "aggressor".
Virus resistance in early humans
This discovery was made possible thanks to new methods for isolating DNA from fossil remains, as well as new technologies used in decoding the genetic code. This theory was helped to formulate Dr. Simon Underdown, another research participant. The specialist studies human evolution within the walls of Oxford. According to the scientist, the genetic data of many pathogenic microorganisms suggests that they could develop together with our ancestors for tens of thousands and even millions of years.
Conclusion
Previous theories have argued that the onset of infectious disease epidemics coincided with the agricultural revolution (about 8,000 years ago). It was during this time that the early nomadic tribes began to breed cattle. Then the pathogens mutated and spread from animals to humans. It was believed that the ideal environment for epidemics was created through a sharp change in lifestyle. For example, tuberculosis has been linked to the agricultural revolution.
But after an in-depth study, a completely different picture emerged. The disease was transmitted to animals through consistent contact with humans, and not vice versa. Although there is no direct evidence of human infection of Neanderthals, there is compelling evidence of crossbreeding. While early humans were able to develop immunity to European diseases, Neanderthals were unable to resist African ones.