What happened to the Neanderthals?

Neanderthals went extinct around 28, 000 years ago. Archeologists are still trying to understand why. In previous posts, I tried to illustrate a shift in our understanding of Neanderthals: from inferior ape-like creatures, they are now usually imagined to be much more human-like in both appearance and behavior.

Well, not always 

http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2012/06/19/neandertals-were-monsters/

If AMH and Neanderthals were in fact so similar, why did Neanderthals die out? Why did AMH flourish instead?

Human Demographics: we've been very successful!

http://skepteco.wordpress.com/2011/10/31/7-billion-hearts-and-minds/

Multiple theories have been advanced, with considerable evidence--yet results are often contradictory. In the next series of posts, I will address some of these hypotheses by exploring supporting evidence as well as counter-evidence.