The Neanderthal Nose

Neanderthals occupied a large part of continental Europe and the Middle East between 250,000 and 30,000 years before our time. First considered as a subspecies of Homo sapiens, they were then recognized as an independent species called Homo neanderthalensis. From a morphological point of view, Neanderthals present significant differences compared to Homo sapiens, particularly concerning the face. A group of European paleoanthropologists (Spanish, English, German, and Italian) worked on the comparative anatomy of fossilized skulls of three species: Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis, and Homo sapiens. To measure head volumes and different specific regions, the researchers used 3D scanning technology. The two major observations revealed significant differences in internal structures. These concerned the temporal lobes and olfactory bulbs, which are more developed in Homo sapiens by about 12% compared to Homo neanderthalensis.