Abstract
Modern humans (Homo neanderthalensis and modern Homo sapiens (AMH)) have evolved at the end of Riss glaciation by the differencitation of archaic Homo sapiens. Both groups developed independently - neanderthals in Europe and Western Asia and AMH in Africa.
AMH and Neanderthals were very close genetically and both groups could potencially interbreed. Both groups had a common ancestor - Homo heidelbergensis/archaic Homo sapiens who has genetical disposition for human speach.
Neanderthals lived in Europe, western Asia and Near East only. They were small and very robust, with an effective cold adaptation using thermoregulation by musle heat.
Neanderthals were predators eating meat of a middle size and large game. Humans lived in Africa and they spread to Asia some 100 000 years b.p. or even earlier.
Neanderthals came to the extinction after before-last glacial maximum, connected with supervolcano Toba megaerruption, while AMH had started to colonise World since 65 000 years. Colonisation of Europe had begun approximately at 45 000 b.p. and AMH had co-existed here with neanderthals for at least 10 000.