Supervolcano not responsible for Neanderthals' end

Monday, October 27, 2014, 12:05 PM - Neanderthals disappeared from Europe about 40,000 years ago—around the same time a supervolcano erupted in the region but the relationship might be more coincidental than causal, according to a new study.

Study author Benjamin Black from the University of California suggests that most of the volcano's pollution headed toward the east, away from the Neanderthal sites.

A computer model of the volcano has replicated the scenario and the global impact it had. Comparing it to the data available, suggests that the fallout from the volcano was brief and limited in western Europe.

According to Black, the effect would not have lasted long enough to have a catastrophic effect on the Neanderthal population.

So what exactly killed the Neanderthals? That's still a mystery. What's clear is that their population quickly declined after homo sapiens arrived in the area. The prevailing theory is that perhaps competition of resources had a deadly toll on the species.

DON'T MISS:  Lava could force evacuation of Hawaiian town.