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The speech portions of the brain were smaller in Neanderthals, which would have made them appear dimwitted to humans, which is how trolls are often depicted in

The speech portions of the brain were smaller in Neanderthals, which would have made them appear dimwitted to humans, which is how trolls are often depicted in folklore. They are known to have lived in smaller social groups than humans, and trolls are depicted as living in small groups as well. Neanderthals were larger than humans, and trolls are similarly depicted as large.

goto11 6y ago
You are just picking the characteristics which confirm your hypothesis. Trolls in Scandinavian folklore can be very different depending on local traditions. They can be small people living underground, human size, or giants living in the the mountains. They can be solitary or living in human-like societies. Literal quote from the Wikipedia article you link: "Trolls may be described as small, human-like beings or as tall as men depending on the region of origin of the story."
- CryptoPunk 6y ago
  It was quite common to depict them as a) human like, b) dimwitted, c) living in caves, d) living in small social groups, e) larger and stronger than humans. You're right that there were other characteristics that were associated with them in some folklore that was not consistent with the Neanderthal hypothesis.
  - goto11 6y ago
    So you just ignore the facts which contradict your hypothesis? This is how people come to believe in wacky conspiracy theories. How about: f) often depicted as smoking pipe, g) living in hills, h) or underneath the earth, i) being rich, j) asking trick questions, k) hating church bells, m) replacing human children with their own, n) wearing read hats, etc.
    - CryptoPunk 6y ago
      There are several peculiar characteristics that match that of Neanderthals. There is an appreciable probability that it is not a coincidence, when Cro-Magnons and Neanderthals did in fact interact in Europe for thousands of years.

goto11 6y ago

You are just picking the characteristics which confirm your hypothesis. Trolls in Scandinavian folklore can be very different depending on local traditions. They can be small people living underground, human size, or giants living in the the mountains. They can be solitary or living in human-like societies. Literal quote from the Wikipedia article you link: "Trolls may be described as small, human-like beings or as tall as men depending on the region of origin of the story."

CryptoPunk 6y ago
It was quite common to depict them as a) human like, b) dimwitted, c) living in caves, d) living in small social groups, e) larger and stronger than humans. You're right that there were other characteristics that were associated with them in some folklore that was not consistent with the Neanderthal hypothesis.
- goto11 6y ago
  So you just ignore the facts which contradict your hypothesis? This is how people come to believe in wacky conspiracy theories. How about: f) often depicted as smoking pipe, g) living in hills, h) or underneath the earth, i) being rich, j) asking trick questions, k) hating church bells, m) replacing human children with their own, n) wearing read hats, etc.
  - CryptoPunk 6y ago
    There are several peculiar characteristics that match that of Neanderthals. There is an appreciable probability that it is not a coincidence, when Cro-Magnons and Neanderthals did in fact interact in Europe for thousands of years.