Editing Neanderthal extinction (section)

===Natural catastrophe===
{{main|Campanian Ignimbrite Eruption}}

A number of researchers have argued that the [[Campanian Ignimbrite Eruption]], a volcanic eruption near Naples, Italy, about 39,280 ± 110 years ago (older estimate ~37,000 years), erupting about {{convert|200|km3|cumi|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} of magma ({{convert|500|km3|cumi|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} bulk volume) contributed to the extinction of Neanderthals.<ref>{{cite journal  | last = Fisher  | first = Richard V.  |author2=Giovanni Orsi |author3=Michael Ort |author4=Grant Heiken   | title = Mobility of a large-volume pyroclastic flow – emplacement of the Campanian ignimbrite, Italy  | journal = Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research  | volume = 56  | issue = 3  | pages =205–220  | date = June 1993  | url = http://volcanology.geol.ucsb.edu/camptuff.htm  | doi = 10.1016/0377-0273(93)90017-L  | access-date = 2008-09-20|bibcode = 1993JVGR...56..205F | url-access = subscription  }}</ref> The argument has been developed by Golovanova et al.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Significance of Ecological Factors in the Middle to Upper Paleolithic Transition |journal=Current Anthropology |volume=51 |issue=5 |page=655 |doi=10.1086/656185 |year=2010 |last1=Golovanova |first1=Liubov Vitaliena |last2=Doronichev |first2=Vladimir Borisovich |last3=Cleghorn |first3=Naomi Elansia |last4=Koulkova |first4=Marianna Alekseevna |last5=Sapelko |first5=Tatiana Valentinovna |last6=Shackley |first6=M. Steven |s2cid=144299365 }}</ref><ref name=volcanoes>{{cite news | url = http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/01/100922-volcanoes-eruptions-neanderthals-science-volcanic-humans/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100924164612/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/01/100922-volcanoes-eruptions-neanderthals-science-volcanic-humans/ | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 24, 2010 | title = Volcanoes Killed Off Neanderthals, Study Suggests | last = Than | first = Ker |date = September 22, 2010 | work = National Geographic | access-date = 23 September 2010}}</ref> The hypothesis posits that although Neanderthals had encountered several [[Interglacial]]s during 250,000 years in Europe,<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Gilligan | first1 = I | year = 2007 | title = Neanderthal extinction and modern human behaviour: the role of climate change and clothing | journal = World Archaeology | volume = 39 | issue = 4| pages = 499–514 | doi=10.1080/00438240701680492| hdl = 1885/28508 | s2cid = 162388264 | hdl-access = free }}</ref> inability to adapt their hunting methods caused their extinction facing ''H. sapiens'' competition when Europe changed into a sparsely vegetated steppe and semi-desert during the last Ice Age.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040211022642/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/02/0209_040209_neandertals.html Climate Change Killed Neandertals, Study Says], National Geographic News</ref> Studies of sediment layers at [[Mezmaiskaya Cave]] suggest a severe reduction of plant pollen.<ref name=volcanoes/> The damage to plant life would have led to a corresponding decline in plant-eating mammals hunted by the Neanderthals.<ref name=volcanoes/><ref name=volcanoes2>{{cite news | url = https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101006094057.htm | title = Volcanoes wiped out Neanderthals, new study suggests (ScienceDaily) | date = 7 October 2010 | work = University of Chicago Press Journals | access-date = 7 October 2010}}</ref><ref>[http://zdf-enterprises.de/en/catalogue/international/zdfefactual/science-knowledge/apocalypse-neanderthal ''Neanderthal Apocalypse''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120123835/https://zdf-enterprises.de/en/catalogue/international/zdfefactual/science-knowledge/apocalypse-neanderthal |date=2017-11-20 }} Documentary film, ZDF Enterprises, 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2016.</ref>