The Neandertal extinction in eastern Central Europe

The Neandertals clearly represent the autochthonous population of eastern Central Europe during the last interglacial and early glacial (OIS 5). The question of their later survival is discussed in this paper, taking into account both the limited anthropological record and the relatively abundant archaeological record. Even if the problem is far from being solved, it may be concluded that the Neandertal extinction in this region was not the effect of climatic deterioration during the Lower Pleniglacial maximum (OIS 4), but, rather, resulted from several millennia of coexistence with the newly emerging early modern humans during the Interpleniglacial (OIS 3). (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.