On Paleogenetics

[lhynard]

I have never had much respect for paleontology. It always angers me to see someone dig up a bone or two and claim to know what a dinosaur or "ape-man" looked like and how it behaved. The history of paleontology is full of frauds and ridiculous theories that were later overturned. So much of it is guesswork, and oftentimes the paleontologists jump

Comments

[aefenglommung]

The original specimen that identified the species (or whatever they are) was found in the Neander Valley in Germany, hence the name. Since modern German has dropped many of its older "Th" spellings, Ger. Thal has become Tal. Homo sapiens neandertalensis means "Wise man of the Neander Valley."

[lhynard]

Yes, German T(h)al and English "dale" share the same root.