Neanderthal Babies Grew Faster and Were Larger Than Modern Human Infants, Study Finds

Neanderthal infants were not only larger but also grew faster than modern human babies, according to a groundbreaking study. Researchers analyzing the skeletal remains of a six-month-old Neanderthal child found that its size was comparable to that of a one-year-old Homo sapiens toddler.

This discovery suggests that Neanderthal babies, the extinct cousins of contemporary humans, were as sturdy as the iconic Bamm-Bamm Rubble from The Flintstones.

Key Findings from the Study

The study, published in the journal Current Biology, examined the remains of a Neanderthal child discovered in a cave in Northern Israel. The child, who lived approximately 51,000 to 56,000 years ago, had relatively thick bones and a large skull, which initially suggested an older age. However, the development of its teeth revealed its true young age.

“I believe that the histological age of the teeth is more accurate than age measured by the volume of the long bones or the endocranial cavity for estimating such a young age.”

Ella Been, Tel Aviv University professor in anatomy and anthropology and the paper’s first author, told El Pais.

Previous research in 2022 also indicated that Neanderthal children had more robust bones than modern human children. Fully mature Neanderthals were typically stockier and shorter than modern humans.

“When compared with other known Neanderthal infants, the same pattern emerges: faster body and brain growth, suggesting greater energy expenditure. Understanding this pattern is crucial to understanding who Neanderthals were and how they adapted to their environment.”

Ella Been, Tel Aviv University

The Discovery of the Neanderthal Child

The remains of the Neanderthal child were unearthed in a cave in Northern Israel alongside about 20 other Neanderthals in the 1960s. However, scientists only began studying the remains in the 1990s. This new paper represents the first comprehensive analysis of the 111 recovered bones from the child, according to El Pais.

Implications for Neanderthal Development

The findings shed new light on the development of Neanderthals, who remain one of the most mysterious groups of early humans. Neanderthals lived in Europe and Asia between 400,000 to 40,000 years ago, a period marked by harsh environmental conditions. Their robust and rapidly maturing children may have been an adaptation to these challenging environments.

Despite these differences, Neanderthals and modern humans did not remain entirely separate. Evidence suggests that male Neanderthals and female humans interbred, producing offspring. Traces of these ancient interactions are preserved in modern human DNA, telling a story of coexistence between two hominid species during prehistory.

Further Reading on Neanderthals

• Scientists Find Evidence That Humans Made Out With Non-Human Creatures