A New Kind of Human?

It was on visting the Neanderthal Museum in Germany that I first learned of the theory that the reason why modern humans out-competed Neanderthal man was not because of more advanced thinking, like so many people assume. Afterall, for what little technical advantage that Neolithic modern humans may have had over Neanderthalensis, the latter more than compensated for in sheer physical strength and robustness.

The theory I read about states that, during many periods of greater cold during the ice ages, ranges of habital territory would shrink a great deal, placing the two peoples in direct competition. During these periods of intense competition for diminished food supplies, the increased physicality of the Neanderthal played against them. The Neanderthal was the 'Hummer' compared to the 'economic model' modern human, but when food is in short supply, needing an estimated twice the amount of your competion is not a good thing.

There's also evidence that Neanderthals may have had longer nursing times and longer gestational periods, both of which would reduce birth rate, another factor that would make recovery from bad conditions more difficult.