Neandertal ontogenies

[Rokcet Scientist]

It turns out that Neandertals matured faster than 'modern' humans, or i.o.w. HS has (had) a longer childhood than HN offspring.

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/ ... f1a46a9db7

So how, if at all, did that affect HN's and HS' social developments and respective fates?

[kbs2244]

When the average human life span was a lot less than it is today and life in general was a lot more physical we would mate younger and mature faster.

In historical times 15 and 16 year olds getting married was not uncommon.

[Rokcet Scientist]

When the average human life span was a lot less than it is today and life in general was a lot more physical we would mate younger and mature faster.

So that would have given HN an evolutionary advantage over HS. Yet we're here, and they're not!

In historical times 15 and 16 year olds getting married was not uncommon.

That - and younger! - is still common among billions in Africa and Asia today, kb.