When We Met Neanderthals [hardcover] by Neil Bockoven

An engaging, realistic account of when our people met up with an entirely different set of humans—the Neanderthals.

Genetic and archaeological data indicate that this actually happened in southern Europe about 45,000 years ago when mammoths and saber-tooth tigers roamed the land. Science Corners on many pages feature amazing topics such as how genetics show that most of us are part Neanderthal, the earliest musical instrument ever found, and what factors likely caused the demise of Neanderthals.

"This absorbing book is filled with interesting facts about what might have happened when the first humans like us arrived in Europe and met our Neanderthal cousins already living there, some 45,000 years ago. I think children will find it quite enjoyable, and I look forward to reading it to my own!"
—Darryl de Ruiter, PhD, Professor and Associate Head, Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University

About the Author

Neil Bockoven is an award-winning PhD geologist and journalist with 35 years of experience in industry.
He has been featured in: Geological Society of America Bulletin, Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, Virginia Journal of Science and many other scientific journals. He is a repeat guest on some of the largest radio talk shows in the country, where he's discussed a variety of science-based subjects as well as his books. Neil is a member of the Archaeological Institute of America, the Archaeological Conservancy, and is an Impact Member of the Center for Study of the First Americans. 

Neil worked as a geologist for Exxon/ExxonMobil in Denver, Midland, Houston, New Orleans and Albuquerque. He coordinated dozens of joint ventures with oil and gas companies, including rights to the entire King Ranch in Texas. 
Neil attended The College of William and Mary, where he was a member of the state champion swim team, and received a Bachelor of Arts. He went on to The University of Texas at Austin, earning a masters and doctorate. He has published articles on topics as diverse as the geology of huge volcanic calderas of the Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains of Mexico to sexual dimorphism in Astarte clams. 

His current interests center on the interaction between Early Modern Humans and Neanderthals during the Paleolithic Age, and the amazing related discoveries being made through archaeology and genetics. In addition to When We Met Neanderthals, Neil has also published a related novel titled Moctu and the Mammoth People.

For more about Neil Bockoven visit his web site at neilbockoven.com and his Facebook page at facebook.com/authorneilbockoven/