To Be Human

During the years before the glacial maximum of the last major ice age, areas of southern Europe were inhabited by both Neandertals and more advanced people, often referred to as Cro-Magnon. Neandertal were short stocky people, heavily muscled, adapted for living in cold climates. They were intelligent and adaptable, as their brains were larger than their homo sapiens counterparts. The Cro-Magnons were more technically advanced than their Neandertal brethren. They were taller, slimmer and better suited for warmer climates. However, their intellect and superior technology allowed them to succeed, even when the environmental conditions became progressively harsher. As the ice continued to encroach on their hunting grounds, the Cro-Magnons were forced to move into new areas - some of which were already inhabited by the Neandertals. This meant unequivocal contact between the two species of humans. The account in this book describes how that contact may have played out.