Physical anthropologists must take several factors into account when defining paleospecies, such as morphological variations of skeletal remains, behavioral characteristics, geographical distribution, ecological niches, technological innovations, and timelines. Your textbook classifies Neanderthals as Homo sapiens. However, due to the complex nature of this process, the proper scientific classification of Neanderthals is still being debated. After reading this chapter and viewing the Decoding Neanderthals documentary on the pervious page, provide your informed opinion on this debate…
Which of the following classifications of Neanderthals are you most comfortable with, and why? Explain your reasoning, and provide evidence to support your argument. Consider the definitions and classification processes of a living biological species vs. an extinct paleospecies, and place it within the context of what you think it means to be “fully” human.
+ Homo neanderthalensis (classifies them as a separate species from modern humans)
+ Homo sapiens neanderthalensis (classifies them as a sub-species of modern humans, indicating that they were undergoing the speciation process but had not yet completed it)
+ Homo sapiens (classifies them as the same species as modern humans)
