Any evidence that humanoids of folklore were inspired by extinct species of Homo?

Question

There are many colorful depictions of human-like creatures in folklore traditions worldwide, particularly those from the Germanic traditions of Europe. We know Neanderthals survived until ~30kabp, even cohabiting Europe with modern humans. They had pale skin, large noses, robust features, red hair, and were similar in height to humans.

Can evidence of this cohabitation have been preserved among the folklore of Old Europe in the form of our stories about curious creatures - e.g., dwarves (which started out tall), elves, gnomes, leprechauns - some of whom, as the stories go, lived on the land before the arrival of modern humans? Can similar elements in the folklore of Africa and Asia have been inspired when someone of old accidentally came across fossil remains of H. erectus, etc. (c.p. postulated origin of 'dragons' in dinosaur fossil remains)?

And would American folklores lack such fanciful humanoids as to be expected, since no great apes ever made it to the New World?

Answer 1

Thanks for an interesting question Vic. I always thought a  lingering population of Homo Erectus or Neanderthal, one whose presence overlapped that of Homo Sapiens, as they obviously did, could perhaps have given rise to the ogre of mythology. With the Pygmies of South West Africa, and apparently formerly of much further afield, plus the recently discovered 'Hobbit' remains on Flores Island, we have the little people of legend. There could easily have also been other tribes of markedly small stature in the past that we have no knowledge of, as well as giants - such as the remains, apparently of European ancestry, found not long ago in central Asia, and the giants reported unearthed in earlier times in the U.S.A., and apparently conscientiously documented, but whose remains were subsequently reburied or lost. Putting this together with the remarkable ability of aspects of culture, if not the people themselves, to disseminate to distant parts, I think there is good reason to suspect a connection. I think various recurrent ancient symbols exemplify this cultural dissemination, the worldwide cup and ring rock engravings, the spiral, the zig zag (assumed to represent water), not to mention the distantly ancient worldwide legend of the hunter and hunted maidens (with variations on the basic theme) specifically and mystifyingly associated with Orion and the Pleiades. There is a surprising persistence to certain legends and cultural artifacts. Much of what is familiar in Christian belief for instance, the significance of the trinity, 12, 13, the cross symbol, the sacrifice who ultimately receives the deadly thrust of a blade, incense burning, the chanting, the belief of life after death, the promise of a renowned leader to return and save his people at some future date, etc. Elements of much older cultures are so often incorporated in the usurper culture, even as Christian churches were often built over earlier pagan temples, pagan holy feast days were plaigiarised, and pagan effigies were 'Christianized' with a slight 're-sculpting'.

I am sure we still mindlessly perform many minor ceremonies and effect common cultural behaviours whose origins, without us realising, are so distant as would be beyond belief.

Answer 2

You bring up a very interesting question. There are myths about humanoid creatures on every continent of the world.

North America has the Bigfoot or Sasquatch

South America has the Andean Ucumar

Africa had the "Bushman" among other legends

Siberia and Central Asia have the Alma or Almasty

Asia has the Orang Pendak, Yeren and Yeti

Australia has the Yowie

All have been described as having ape-like features, but walking like a human.

Could these creatures be related to the Neanderthal, or the legends themselves have their origin in oral history based on the former existence of the Neanderthal? Maybe

You've made me think...what a dangerous thing to do!