The Neanderthals

Question 0

Homo neanderthalensis? or Homo sapiens neaderthalensis?

Answer 0

Neanderthal DNA has been compared to modern human DNA, the two are a separate species.
-last common ancestor 550,000 - 600,000 BP

Question 1

Health & Disease in neaderthals

Answer 1

• frequent traumatic injuries (healed, evidence of care & compassion)
• high incidence of head & neck fractures
• nutritional stress
• joint disease

Question 2

What percentage of genomes does an individual human currently share with Neanderthals?

Answer 2

1-4%.

Question 3

As a species, modern humans may share what percentage of genomes with Neanderthals?

Answer 3

between 20-30%

Question 4

Who were the Denisovans?

Answer 4

• specimen found in Siberia (48,000-30,000 BP)
• were distinctly different from both Neanderthals & modern humans (third hominin lineage?)
• common ancestor 1 mya
• did NOT contribute genes to Neanderthals
• did NOT contribute genes to Melanesians

-Neanderthal toe bone indicates interbreeding between Denisovans & Neanderthals

Question 5

What years did Neanderthals live?

Answer 5

27,000- 150,000 BP

Question 6

Where did Neanderthals live?

Answer 6

Europe, Near East, Middle East, Western Asia

-several hundred individuals have been found

Question 7

where were most of neanderthal fossils found?

Answer 7

caves

Question 8

Whose fossils most through represent fossil hominins?

Answer 8

Neanderthals

Question 9

When and where did the Neanderthals live

Answer 9

• 27,000- 150,000 Bp
• Europe, near east, Middle East, Western Asia
• several hundred individuals have been found
• Climate was extreme glacial/interglacial cycles

-Neanderthals & anatomically modern H. sapiens overlapped in time & space

Question 10

Where are the majority of Neanderthal fossils found?

Answer 10

caves, indicates extensive use of caves as living sites

Question 11

Anatomical traits of Neanderthals

Answer 11

Shaafhausen’s analysis

• long, low skull
• large brow ridges
• very robust post-cranial bones with large muscle attachments. long bones & joints
• left ulna had been broken and healed awkwardly
• powerfully built (barrel-chested, short-forarms & shins)
• shorter in stature

Shaafhausen’s conclusion:
-normally developed man of a different “race” who lived long ago

Reactions to Shaafhausen’s analysis:

• the remains were to apelike (in spite of the human cranial capacity and skeleton
• this was a modern person who suffered from a number of pathologies

Question 12

Anatomy of Neanderthal Cranium and teeth

Answer 12

• Long, low cranial vault (different from Homo erectus)
• large cranium (females 1300 cc, males 1600 cc)
• fully modern brain organization

Teeth

• extreme wear on front teeth (used as tools or to hold objects)
• extra enamel ridges on upper incisors (shovel shaped appearance, provides great resistance to wear
• taurodontism *expanded pulp cavities & fused roots, teeth can sustain more wear)
• inner ear anatomy differs from H. erectus & modern humans

Question 13

Why did neanderthals have a prognathic face & large nose?

Answer 13

• warmed air on intake
• helped dissipate heavy bite loads
• Genetic isolation in glacial environment caused genetic drift from prognathic ancestors

Question 14

When and where did classic Neanderthals emerge?

Answer 14

In Europe

150,000 BP in last interglacial period.

Question 15

How is the neanderthal body built for the cold?

Answer 15

• powerfully built (barrel-chested, short forearms & shins)
• shorter in stature (males 169cm, females 160cm)
• larger & more robust,
• long bones & joints
• heavy muscle markings
• daily energy needs are high, highly active for long hours