Dogs are the reason Neanderthal man disappeared: thanks to them the modern man conquered Europe 40,000 years ago

Since the discovery of Neanderthal in the 19th century, the cause of their extinction has arguably been one of the most fascinating mysteries of human evolution. Why did a species so similar to us that it wore clothes, used fire, buried its dead, made jewelry, and communicated with words dwindled and disappeared from the face of the earth?

According to Pat Shipman, adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania, perhaps subconsciously our interest in the fate of Neanderthals is closely related to the questions we ask about our own existence. We hope that by understanding their extinction, we can learn more about ourselves. Whatever the reason, the mystery captures the imagination of both scientists and the public to this day.

Scientists are divided into two groups

Among researchers, theories about the disappearance of Neanderthals are mostly divided into two main directions. According to one group, environmental changes made it impossible for Neanderthals to survive. Their loss was caused by newly arrived African Homo sapiens groups. They were pushed to the edge of habitable areas, so their survival eventually became impossible.

The possibility that disease played a silent but devastating role in the demise of the Neanderthals has also been raised recently. Extinction may seem like a strong word, but we are talking about a process that took place over a period of about 20,000 years, with a huge geographical extent. What affected the Neanderthals living in Croatia was probably completely different from what caused the death of the population settled in France.

The wolf was the cause of it all!

Anthropologist Pat Shipman’s main research area is taphonomy. This science studies the breakdown of bodies into bones and then into fossil remains.

Shipman makes an extremely convincing case for the role of Homo Sapiens as an invasive species. This group arrived in Europe around 40,000-50,000 years ago and had an immediate impact on the ecosystem. And Neanderthals weren’t the only victims.

After Homo sapiens arrived to Europe, the so-called “predator alliance” (a group of animals that includes cave hyenas, cave lions, and saber-toothed cats) began to disappear and then die out. Neanderthals, who were also members of the “predator alliance”, met the same fate as a result of competition with Homo sapiens.

So far, this theory is uncontroversial and consistent with the theories put forth by many other scientists who also claim that “intelligent man” outwitted the native Neanderthals.

And now we come to our favorite topic, the dog. If you’ve persevered this far, congratulations, you won’t regret it! Pat Shipman’s argument offers a completely new perspective on the Neanderthal extinction. She also attributes a major role to wolves in the process that led to the dominance of Homo sapiens and the eventual decline of the members of the original “predator alliance”.

Domestication was the Neanderthals’ death sentence

According to Pat Shipman, unlike Neanderthals, who never domesticated animals, Homo sapiens formed an alliance with wolves shortly after arriving in Europe. This relationship started so fruitfully that it eventually led to domestication. And this created the deadly mixture that allowed them to surpass all other predators.

Thanks to their unique technique, wolves are extremely effective hunters; and in cooperation with man they proved invincible. Even prey animals that were potentially too large for the pack to risk were tracked and cornered. That’s when man stepped in with spears and other projectile weapons to put the finishing touches. In this way, using the key abilities of both species, the symbiotic super hunter was created.

In addition, this type of teamwork even allowed them to scare off potential looters such as cave lions and hyenas, as well as other alien wolves.

It turns out that the assumed date of domestication is wrong

Of course, this theory would only be speculation if it weren’t for the evidence to support it, which has only recently come to light. According to the traditional theory, the domestication of dogs began about 10,000 years ago, when agriculture also began to develop rapidly. However, genetic research is beginning to push this date further and further into the past.

Among the new data that overturns old ideas is the carbon isotope dating of dog fossils in Belgium. The investigation came to the conclusion that the mentioned findings could be 36,000 years old. Not only is this much earlier than previously thought, but it also falls squarely within the time frame established by Pat Shipman for the alliance between humans and wolves. “Personally, I like these kinds of discoveries the most. The methodology is sound, the comparative sample sizes are commendable, and the result makes you rethink everything you thought you knew until now.” – added Pat Shipman.

Nothing is perfect

Shipman herself draws attention to the fact that there are shortcomings in the thesis. (Let’s not forget that, for example, Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species also had some obscure spots.)

Shipman’s colleagues also point to details that offer conflicting data or different interpretations, but this is inevitable. One of the great strengths of human evolutionary science is that new evidence always forces scientists to reevaluate existing findings. Ideas supported by today’s evidence can be swept away at any time by a new development in the field.

Surely there are those who are skeptical about Pat Shipman’s theory, because a mystery that seems insoluble is always more exciting than the solution itself. But Shipman reminds us of the most important reason for doing research and publishing: “We don’t publish just to publish, and it’s not true that we don’t care about impact or the return on investment of a framework for research excellence. Indeed, we take the time to examine the data, consider the big questions and synthesise across multiple themes to produce viable and intellectually satisfying theories.”