Comments on: Neanderthal Man, Troll Man, Jotun Man

By: Ray Kerkhove

Ray Kerkhove — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 03:30:08 +0000

This is fascinating – in Australia where I live there are some Aboriginal myths that seem to hark back to events of tens of thousands of years ago, so why not also Europe? I follow archaeological news a bit, and there is increasing evidence that Neanderthals were very troll-like: pale and freckled, red haired, squat, strong people who lived in small, inward-looking groups (never travelling more than twenty miles for life’s necessities)- I can quite imagine that encountering them (and doubtless fighting them) created a strong mythic memory for Homo Sapiens in Europe. And like some troll myths, Neanderthals ate people (at times), lived in mountain caves (and under bridges?) etc. Recently in Flores we’ve found there were ‘little people’ after all, so why not also trolls?

By: Kirk (aka John) Bonner

Kirk (aka John) Bonner — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:19:01 +0000

I think it’s highly likely that as H. sapiens spread into Europe (app. 50 KYBP) that there were less than pleasant encounters between H. sapiens groups and H. neanderthalensis groups as each vied for scarce resources. Given what we know of the physiognomy of H. neanderthalensis, it fits very well into the concept of troll/giant found in Norse mythology. As H. neanderthalensis became increasingly marginalized by modern humans, Neanderthals would have migrated into more difficult and challenging terrains, such as what is now northern Europe and known today as Scandinavia. And we also know that H. neanderthalensis was eminently adapted to cold, harsh climates.

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 18:48:42 +0000

I am really into this idea myself…love paleontology, trolls, nordic lore, etc. My stepfather is Norwegian and I have spent every summer of my life there and have often contemplated Neanderthals interacting (or hiding in the shadows) with modern man. I have no doubt in my mind that the remnants of Neanderthal peoples gave rise to the stories of trolls and the ideas of cult of Oden and berzerker warriors (also a fascination of mine). I am just starting my exploration of these ideas but you might also want to look at El Collar del Neanderthal by Juan Luis de Arsuaga or Dance of the Tiger by Bjorn Kurten.

By: Berry

Berry — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:21:23 +0000

Ab-so-lute-ly. And anything like that Bigfoot huxtering can help build a bit of relevancy.

It’s hard enough getting students interested in any lit., but this year I’m already blessed that I’ve got (1) a lot of readers-for-pleasure and (2) writers-for-pleasure. It really doesn’t seem like work at all.

By: Paul Jessup

Paul Jessup — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 15:34:51 +0000

Lol! Talk about serendipity, huh?

By: Berry

Berry — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 13:51:46 +0000

Thirteenth Warrior = Eaters of the Dead. Actually, I loved his “What if?” premise: How might the Beowulf myth have had its kernel-of-truth beginning? And away he goes . . . I need to re-read that one myself. The most impressive bit about the novel is the attention of detail re: Viking lifestyles.

And then we have all the cryptid hoopla over the alleged Bifoot find just a few hours north of where I’m sitting. Here I am smack dab in the middle of a Senior English unit over the Anglo-Saxon period and Beowulf!

By: Paul Jessup

Paul Jessup — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:30:51 +0000

Lol. Well, I’m not surprised, this idea seems hardly original. Eaters of the Dead- that’s the one Thirteenth Warrior is based on, right? I need to read that.

I’ve decided I’m going to make this a secondary world fantasy, and use the original idea as a spring board of what-if’s scenarios.

By: Berry

Berry — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:13:54 +0000

Actually, Michael Crichton posits as much in the Afterword to Eaters of the Dead.

By: Matt’s Bookosphere 8/14/08 « Enter the Octopus

Matt’s Bookosphere 8/14/08 « Enter the Octopus — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 03:34:51 +0000

[...] Paul Jessup is contemplating Neanderthal Man [...]

By: admin

admin — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:51:45 +0000

Of course, my books will be more magical/fantasy oriented and less 100% accurate (dealing more with layering magical realism, primal rituals, that sort of thing) then Clan of the Cave Bear was.