Page 207 - The Errors the American National Academy of Sciences

The NAS's Human Evolution Error

T Th e N a s ' ' s s E r r r r o r r s R e g a r r d i i n g
he Nas's Errors Regarding
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T The Nas's Errors Regarding
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In its chapter on human evolution, the NAS claims that DNA ex-
tracted from a well-preserved skeleton of Neanderthal Man was used
to establish, by means of the molecular clock technique,
that Neanderthal Man diverged from Homo sapiens
half a million years ago. This species later became
extinct. In the following paragraph, the NAS
suggests that modern man evolved from more
archaic humans some 100,000 to 150,000 years
ago (Science and Creationism, p. 24). The classic
evolutionist implication here is that Neanderthal
Man became extinct before fully evolv-
ing into modern man, and that modern
man is a totally different species.
Top right is the Homo sapiens nean-
derthalensis skull Amud I, found in Israel.
Neanderthal man is generally considered
to have been short. However, this fossil
specimen is estimated to have been
around 1.80 m tall. Its brain volume is the
largest so far encountered: 1740 cc. This
fossil, therefore, demolishes the claims
that Neanderthals were a primitive
species. The Kebara 2 (Moshe) fossil to
the right is the best complete
Neanderthal specimen so far discov-
ered. The skeletal structure of this
1.70-m tall individual is indistinguish-
able from that of modern man.

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