Neanderthal babies were surprisingly bigger and grew faster than modern human babies. A recent study from scientists in Israel and Europe looked at the remains of a six-month-old Neanderthal. They found that this little one was about the size of a one-year-old human.
The remains were discovered in a cave in Northern Israel and date back 51,000 to 56,000 years. The bones were thick, and the skull was large, suggesting the child was older than it really was. However, the development of its teeth revealed its true age. Ella Been, a professor of anatomy and anthropology at Tel Aviv University and the study’s lead author, noted that teeth growth is a more accurate way to determine age than bone size.
Other research from 2022 also supports these findings, showing that Neanderthal children had sturdier bones than modern human kids. Been explained that this points to their faster growth and greater energy needs. Understanding how Neanderthals developed can help us learn more about their lives.
The baby studied was part of a group of around 20 Neanderthals found in the 1960s, but serious examination of these remains only picked up in the 1990s. This study is the first to closely analyze the child’s 111 bones.
These insights highlight critical differences between Neanderthals and humans. Neanderthals lived in harsh conditions across Europe and Asia from about 400,000 to 40,000 years ago. Their environment likely favored stronger children who matured quickly.
Interestingly, there’s also evidence that Neanderthals and early humans interacted and even reproduced. Male Neanderthals and female humans mated, leaving traces of their DNA intermingled, which tells a story of shared existence during ancient times.
In today’s context, understanding Neanderthal growth patterns might seem a bit distant. However, it reminds us of the diverse ways life adapts to different environments. Recent genetic data shows that almost 2% of the DNA of non-African modern humans comes from Neanderthals, a testament to their lasting impact on our genetic makeup.
Learning about these ancient beings not only satisfies our curiosity but also enriches our understanding of human history and evolution. For more about Neanderthals and their influence on humans, check out studies like those from the Smithsonian.
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El Pais, Neanderthals
