A recent study about the Altamura Man, a remarkably preserved Neanderthal skeleton, questions long-held beliefs about Neanderthal noses. Found in 1993 in a cave in Italy, this skeleton is encased in calcite, keeping it safe from further damage. It dates back between 130,000 and 172,000 years.
Researchers have been able to analyze the nasal cavity of Altamura Man using a method called virtual paleoanthropology. This technique allowed them to capture detailed images of the nasal bones without removing the skull from the cave. Their findings, published in the journal PNAS, suggest that the structure inside the nose closely resembles that of modern humans, not the unique adaptations previously assumed.
Lead researcher Costantino Buzi from the University of Perugia noted that while other Neanderthal bones indicate they adapted to cold weather with shorter limbs, Altamura Man’s nasal structure is not as unique as once thought. Previous theories suggested that Neanderthals had large noses to help warm and humidify cold, dry air before it reached their lungs. But the new insights suggest this might be an oversimplification.
Todd Rae, a paleoanthropologist at the University of Sussex, mentioned that two out of three traits previously thought to be unique to Neanderthal noses were absent in Altamura Man. This shows there’s more variation in Neanderthals than we understood before.
Instead of entirely viewing their large noses as cold-weather adaptations, it’s possible they served a different function—increasing airflow for their larger bodies. The cold environments they lived in created pressures that influenced their development.
Interestingly, wide noses have been common in many Homo species, suggesting that Neanderthals might not be as distinct in this regard as previously believed.
This research highlights the importance of continuing to explore ancient remains to understand our ancestors better. It also underlines how science can evolve with new findings, encouraging us to rethink long-standing theories about human evolution.
You can check out the full study here.
