The two lines separated and reunited several times and in several locations. I think from what I've read that European Neanderthals were separated the longest. One could only imagine all types of interactions between the two lineages. Simply becuase there is a split between two similar lines does not mean they cannot reproduce.
Liger-Tigon
If in one location we find peaceful coexistence. Then that proves that in that location they had a peaceful coexistence. The area in question was probably very abundant in natural resources. This however doesn't mean that in other locations say in southern France they didn't have a much different relationship. Hunting the same game and competing for the same resources in a harsher environment would have resulted in a confrontational outcome.
Whose to say that even if they interbred that the offspring's could even reproduce? They may have created a sterile offspring. Also have all the bones been tested?
Neanderthal may have had early advantages in their realms but with a new faster breading group with a slightly more advanced social system and on top of that them carrying diseases that Neanderthal had no defense against was a fatal combination.
A great read for anybody referring to the European conquest of the new world. It's an interesting perspective. I found the video series on YouFlube I will embed the 1rst part.
Guns, Germs and Steel.
I say the largest contribution to the down fall of Neanderthal would have been the earliest forms of animal domestication before the 15000 to 10000 BC mark. We may not have had them "Domesticated" yet but we could have been interacting with them long before the first herders showed up in mass.
These early forms of interactions could of had the same results which later conquered the new world. As per neanderthal it helped spread Germs into the arena of species survival.
We have seen it happen a few times in our own history. At first by mistake then on purpose. Once man realized how powerful it was then it later became a weapon.
[edit on 13-9-2009 by SLAYER69]


