Why I Wrote about Neandertals

In junior high school, in the late 1950s, I developed a desire to write a novel about what it would be like if Neandertals had survived to live in today’s world. I have read several novels that address the question. “Neanderthal” by John Darnton and “Ember from the Sun” by Mark Canter are interesting examples, but neither does what I wanted to do. The first step for my story involves providing a logical explanation of how some Neandertals were able to survive the extinction of their kind. “Heart of the Bison,” the first book in the Neandertal trilogy, answers that question.

“Heart of the Bison” provides a culture and religion for Neandertals that is based upon archeological data. Because the seminal cause of the extinction of Neandertals is the arrival of Cro-Magnons in Europe and the Middle East, a culture and religion are also provided for the Cro-Magnons. There is no evidence of a conflict between these major branches of the human race, but two things seem clear. First, the technology and thinking process of Cro-Magnons gave them the deciding advantage in making use of the limited resources of the environment. Second, there is convincing evidence that Neandertals and Cro-Magnons occasionally interbred.

“Heart of the Bison” addresses themes that are relevant in the world today, including the justification for war, caring for the environment, and showing that determination is often the key to success when the goal seems impossible. The reader will gain a greater appreciation for the Neandertal’s humanness as preparation of the next two books of the trilogy.