Neanderthals in the America's

[Domoviye]

Note, however, that Lions and Tigers seem to have diverged ~3.9MYa and Humans and Neandert(h)als only ~500kYa, so mating barriers are surely more social/behavioural than genetic.

That's why scientists are confused that genetic testing seems to show only genes from male neanderthals entered humans DNA. If human women and Neanderthal males were making babies, why weren't human males and neanderthal females?
The most likely reason is some biological problem. Maybe their children were mules, maybe they died in the womb, maybe they had severe genetic problems. No one really knows.
So I'm going along the lines that they just can't get a live birth due to differences in hormone levels, which really screw with human embryo's in a Neanderthal's womb.

 

[Dathi THorfinnsson]

Cotton is very expensive at this point. Linen is much cheaper and available. There was another reference to cotton earlier that also made me think that you thought it was a 'normal' fabric.

Bleaahh... American cotton, like what Aztecs and Inca used. D'uh. Still, that far north out of its range it has to be pretty expensive.

Obviously, I've just discovered this thread and am reading through it from the beginning.

 

[Domoviye]

Bleaahh... American cotton, like what Aztecs and Inca used. D'uh. Still, that far north out of its range it has to be pretty expensive.

Obviously, I've just discovered this thread and am reading through it from the beginning.

Missed your first comment.
Mesoamerican cotton is expensive up there. Which is why its used for special guests as a sign of wealth. Its used for the same as the silk dress, they want to show they're not poor savages to the European traders. But most of them will use leather and wool.
I'm glad you found the thread and seem to be enjoying it.
Cheers.

 

[Hierophant]

That's why scientists are confused that genetic testing seems to show only genes from male neanderthals entered humans DNA. If human women and Neanderthal males were making babies, why weren't human males and neanderthal females?
The most likely reason is some biological problem. Maybe their children were mules, maybe they died in the womb, maybe they had severe genetic problems. No one really knows.
So I'm going along the lines that they just can't get a live birth due to differences in hormone levels, which really screw with human embryo's in a Neanderthal's womb.

Maybe its because the vast majority of crossbreeding incidents resembled rapes. a neanderthal man might have no problems holding a human girl down, but a neanderthal girl could rip a human males arm off and beat him to death with it.

 

[Domoviye]

Maybe its because the vast majority of crossbreeding incidents resembled rapes. a neanderthal man might have no problems holding a human girl down, but a neanderthal girl could rip a human males arm off and beat him to death with it.

That could be one reason, although Neanderthal women weren't nearly as strong as the men.
But the thing is most of the remains found don't seem to show human on Neanderthal or vice versa damage. Most of the damage seems to be inflicted by strong hoofs, falls, teeth or claws. If there was widespread rape, there would be a lot more signs of human violence, such as stone and wood splinters on the bones and signs of spear tips and blades scratching bones. For the most part there isn't.

 

[Hierophant]

true but the disparity in strength between men an women wasnt as pronounced as in humans because hunting responsibilities fell on both sexes. plus females would be prized captives an less likely to be callously injured.

 

[Domoviye]

true but the disparity in strength between men an women wasnt as pronounced as in humans because hunting responsibilities fell on both sexes. plus females would be prized captives an less likely to be callously injured.

If the Neanderthals were taking human women to breed with against the womans and her tribes will, there would be fighting. Which would leave a lot of people on both sides with wooden spears and clubs in their bodies. Since there isn't much evidence of this, it's unlikely that rape was a large factor in the spreading of genes.
A small part almost certainly, but not the main cause.