Allan Shumaker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bernard,
> I think most 'experts' concur that Neanderthals
> were in Europe as early as 250,000 years ago.

The point I was making is that it was not the 58KYA cited in the post, presumably from the TV show. I'm OK with 250 K.
Bernard

>
>
> "The range of traits in Neanderthals is very
> broad, and specimens can be looked at in three
> groups: early Neanderthals (approximately 250 kyr
> to 130 kyr), the Neanderthals that existed during
> the transition to the Upper Paleolithic
> (approximately 130 kyr to 45 kyr), and the late
> surviving Neanderthals ( after 45 kyr). The traits
> that make up each group will be discussed, along
> with this will be descriptions of some specific
> specimens.
>
> Lower Paleolithic Neanderthals
>
> As always in the anagenesis of one species into
> another, there is a "fuzzy" area which prevents
> the pinning down a a date when "A" became "B". In
> the case of heidelbergensis to neanderthalensis,
> this boundary seems to have the Neanderthals first
> appearing between 250 kyr to 200 kyr. The
> specimens that can be attributed as some of the
> earlier Neanderthals include material from
> Pontnewydd Cave, Vértesszöllos, Ehringsdorf, Casal
> de'Pazzi, Biache, La Chaise, Montmaurin, Prince,
> Lazaret, Fontéchevade, and possibly the very
> latest material from Atapuerca."