Neanderthals

Dear Readers,

I suddenly gained a hankering for watching some PBS Nova, and found out that one can watch Nova: Science Now free online. In the course of a minor binge, I found something that stuck with me. Neanderthals.

Nova: Science Now "What Makes Us Human?"  http://www.pbs.org/video/2288288291/

The episode is called What Makes Us Human? and it talks mostly about our brains and our genes. However, there is a large section about Neanderthals. Though they are "classified" by science as Homo Neanderthalensis, scientists have yet to agree if they are a different species, or only a subspecies.

I would like to remind my readers about the post I had about The Creation, and how scientists do not abide by their own rules when distinguishing different species. It is by this that I would like to point out some arguments about the Neanderthals in the video. Many of us humans, or Homo Sapiens, have Neanderthal genes which are supposed to have been introduced after the two "species" separated. This means that the Neanderthals were able to successfully breed with Homo Sapiens. This also, as far as I can tell, determines that they are indeed a subspecies of humans.

Now, what is a subspecies? Other names for subspecies are breed, as with different cat and dog breeds, and race, with people. Wait, if neanderthals are a subspecies of humans, as well as all of the different races of people we have today, does that mean neanderthals are just a different race? Yes, yes it does.

(cropped screen shot from Nova: Science Now "What Makes Us Human?")

The main reason scientists don't refer to neanderthals as a race is because of their head and brain structure. The rest of their bodies closely resemble our own, more hairy and usually with red hair, but their skulls are larger and more bulbous, which would give them larger faces. Their brains are also larger, though the argument was made that they might not be better, since their subspecies is extinct.

However, with the descriptions of hunter gatherer, red hair, very hairy, and living in caves, I began to think about Esau (who's name means "red") son of Issac from the Old Testament. When Rebekah, Issac's wife, was giving birth, "...the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau." (Genesis 25:25). In Genesis 25:27 it adds, "...and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field..."

Well, there is the red hairy hunter, but what about the caves? "And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: there was his name called Edom." (Genesis 25:30). Esau, feeling robbed of his birth rite over the "pottage" he left and made a home in the mountain of Seir, "Thus dwelt Esaus in mount Seir: Esau is Edom." (Genesis 36: 8). Now, the name "Seir" means "shaggy", and was given to a man who founded the Horites (Bible Dictionary Seir). The Edomites, named after their ancestor Edom or Esau, were a people who lived in the area South of the Dead Sea. It was these Edomites who mated with the Horites, or "shaggy people", who lived in caves (Bible Dictionary Edom). Thus, the red (Edom) shaggy (Seir) people were formed, and were called by one name, Edomites.

Area where neanderthal skeletons have been found (screen shot from Nova: Science Now "What Makes Us Human?")

The Edomites often went to war with Ancient Israel, and it is quite likely that either as prisoners or simply to escape the conflict, that some Edomites migrated into the northern lands of modern day Europe. This would explain why most neanderthal bones have been found in this area.

Though they migrated north, as the episode points out, they were a strange looking people, and likely received much persecution. Likely, being driven and hunted like monsters, it was a rare and strange thing for them to be accepted. However, this could explain the mannerisms and genetics of Ireland and Scotland. Indeed, both of these people generally have black or red hair.

I acknowledge that there is a widely different time scheme between Edomites and Neanderthals, however, as I brought up in my post about Geography of the Book of Mormon, if we used proper and more accurate ways of telling genetic time, then the two time periods become closer together.

Alas, though my ideas are sound in my mind, the majority of the world, and science, reject this train of thought. As for myself, I have come to the conclusion that Neanderthals are indeed the name of the race of Edomites. I would love to hear your thoughts or ideas on this subject, so feel free to post!

Special thanks to PBS and the Nova program for sharing so much scientific information with the world.

Love,
Jacobugoth