Module 14

Question 1

Homo Neanderthalensis

Answer 1

1. Neandertals are bigger in overall size than humans(not necessarily taller).
2. Barrel-chested
3. Shorter proportioned limbs.
4. Very robust skeletal structure (hugely muscled).

Question 2

Neanderthalensis skull features (125-35 years ago).

Answer 2

1. Very large brow ridges that arch around the eye orbits
2. Very large nasal cavity & sinuses.
3. Brain size 1520 cc! (average human brain size 1300-1400 cc, but larger body size = larger brain size).
4. No chin.
5. Dentition is very similar to humans only slightly larger.
6. Cranium is larger and thicker than humans.
7. Cranium bulges at sides (humans have flat vertical parietals).
8. Very rounded sagittal bone.
9. More vertical forehead than H. Erectus but still flatter than humans.
10. More prognathism than humans.
11. Significantly longer cranium than humans.
12. Rounded bottom of cranium similar to humans (much more than H. Erectus & H. heidelburgensis).
13. Occipital bun (bony bulge in the back of cranium).

Question 3

Neanderthalensis Cold-Weather Adaptions

Answer 3

1. Stocky, short-limbed body structure means less heat-radiating surface.
2. Large barrel chest helps keep heat near the body’s core.
3. Prognathism result of huge sinus cavities, helpful in warming very cold air while breathing.
4. Large sinus cavities also moisturize the air, helping prevent dehydration in cold dry areas.

Question 4

Neanderthalensis Children

Answer 4

1. Perhaps grew faster than humans when very young.

2. General overall growth rates very similar to humans.

Question 5

Neanderthalensis (“Old Man” Neanderthal Cranium at La Chapelle, France).

Answer 5

Many injuries, including a very large amount of bone decay in the skull due to poor tooth hygiene, a broken rib, and bad arthritis in multiple vertebrae.

Question 6

Neanderthalensis (“Old Man” Neanderthal Cranium at Shanidar, Iraq).

Answer 6

Received a blow to the left side of his head causing damage to his left eye socket likely causing blindness on the left side. He also had a missing hand and various other injuries that he seemed to have lived through for quite some time.

Question 7

Possible Neandertal burial at Shanidar, Iraq

Answer 7

Body carefully arranged & flower pollen found near body.

Question 8

Mousterian Tool Culture

Answer 8

A more effective method of getting more tools out of a single piece of flint and the point at which hafting was used to make handles for tools to generate more focused force.

Question 9

The disappearance of the Neandertals

Answer 9

1. Direct conflict? (not a lot of evidence).
2. Outcompeted?
3. Environment? (cold weather got warmer making some adaptions worse).
4. Genetically swamped out? (If homo sapiens were more numerous than Neandertals and they could interbreed, they genetically disappeared).