Ok, So Where Them Neanderthals Go, Anyway?

A recent research study printed in the October issue of "Current Anthropology" strongly suggests that the rather sudden (in geologic time scale) disappearance of the Neanderthals was due to volcanism.
Specifically, the article identifies "the Campanian Ignimbrite super-eruption which occurred around 40,000 years ago in modern day Italy, and a smaller eruption thought to have occurred around the same time in the Caucasus Mountains. The researchers argue that these eruptions caused a “volcanic winter” as ash clouds obscured the sun’s rays, possibly for years. The climatic shift devastated the region’s ecosystems, “possibly resulting in the mass death of hominids and prey animals and the severe alteration of foraging zones.” (end)