On Neanderthal vs. Paranthropus, 1976

When these people in 1976 were making arguments against the idea of a separate Paranthropus genus, a genus that later got increasingly accepted in the late 80s and early 90s, they make the case that both Heidelbergensis and Neanderthals are also robust, therefore the robust so called “Paranthropus” are actually Australopithecus.

What a better explanation is to that both Heidelbergensis and Neanderthals are robust, while the other species in Homo are not, is that both Heidelbergensis and Neanderthals are descendants from Paranthropus. That idea is so simple, yet in 1976, before the concept — meme — of Paranthropus had given people a new lens to view the world through, a new model of the world, that was too far a leap to see.

Their argument in On Neanderthal vs. Paranthropus continues to make the connection, while not seeing the simplest explanation.

And, they continue to say that Neanderthals are descended from Paranthropus, without realizing it.