Them and Us: Neanderthal predation and the bottleneck speciation of modern humans Danny Vendramini* *Independent scholar. Correspondence to: PO. Box 924 Glebe. Sydney, NSW. 2037 Australia. Ph: 612-9550 9682. Email:
[email protected] Keywords: Human evolution, Neanderthals, Levant, Upper Palaeolithic, predation, natural selection, modern human origins. Abstract Based on a reassessment of Neanderthal behavioural ecology it is argued argues that the emergence of behaviourally modern humans was the consequence of systemic Neanderthal predation of Middle Paleolithic humans in the East Mediterranean Levant between 100 and 45 thousand years BP. ‘Neanderthal predation theory’ proposes intraguild predation, sexual predation, hybridisation, lethal raiding and coalitionary killing gradualistically reduced the Levantine human population, resulting in a population bottleneck <50 Kya and precipitating the selection of anti-Neanderthal adaptations. Sexual predation generated robust selection pressure for an alternate human mating system based on, private copulation, concealed ovulation, menstrual synchrony, habitual washing, scent concealment, mate guarding, enforced female fidelity, incest avoidance and long-term pair bonding. Simultaneously, intraguild predation, lethal raiding and coalitionary killing generated selection pressure for strategic adaptations, including cognitive fluidity, male aggression, language capacity, creativity, increased athleticism, enhanced semantic memory, group loyalty, male risk-taking, capacity to form strategic coalitions,