alternatehistory.com

So, taking Robert J. Sawyer's POD, some 50,000 years ago the Neanderthals suddenly gain behavioral modernity during a brief period of time. Humans do not. We are blaming the Great Leap Forward on a physiological (quantum?) change in the brain, as postulated by some, instead of an environmental stimulus. The humans will make no progress at least until 30,000 years ago… so if they are still alive after that point, its likely they could reach behavioral modernity as well.

On one side, the humans stop their expansion into Australia and Northern Eurasia, and never take up fine tool-making, sophisticated weaponry, sculpture, cave painting, body ornaments or long-distance trade. Instead, those inventions appear amongst the Neanderthals. Fishing is taken up, also bartering, the use of pigment and jewelry for decoration, game playing, music, and ceremonial burials.

The Neanderthals-instead-of-Humans scenario has been brought up before, here, but I think its time again for another brainstorm session. What we need to analyze is exactly what was different between the Neanderthals and Humans and see how that would effect their development versus humanity.
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