Neanderthals as nimble-fingered as humans

Neanderthals as nimble-fingered as humans


13:25 27 March 03

NewScientist.com news service


Neanderthal's had index fingers (left) that could touch their thumbs (right) (Image: Niewoehner et al)
Neanderthals were not the clumsy cave dwellers once thought - new computer simulations show they were as nimble-fingered as their human cousins.

Although Neanderthal tools were not as complex as those of our human ancestors, the virtual modelling shows Neanderthals were just as capable of manipulating the raw materials used. Simple clumsiness, therefore, is unlikely to be part of the reason for their sudden extinction 30,000 years ago.

Wes Niewoehner, of California State University, San Bernardino, says a clearer picture of Neanderthals is now beginning to emerge. "Despite being able to produce precision grips as well as modern humans, they seem to have nevertheless relied on them less often," he told New Scientist. "They preferred instead to emphasise power in their manipulatory behaviours."

The suggestion that Neanderthals had the dexterity to make complex tools but did not do so provides a fresh insight, says Paul Pettitt, at Oxford University, UK. "It tells us that our own intellectual evolution and physical interaction with the world was different to the Neanderthals. But it does not necessarily indicate that they were in any less sophisticated behaviourally."

However Chris Stringer, at the UK's Natural History Museum, cautions that a more complete study of Neanderthal's hands could yet reveal differences. "Other research shows there are differences in other parts of the hand that might reflect differences in habitual behaviour," he says.

Neanderthals lived in Europe, the Near East, Central Asia and western Siberia from about 350,000 years ago. For the final 15,000 years of their existence, they co-habited with modern humans.

The cause of their demise has been much debated. They were larger and more muscular than their humans counterparts, and were initially thought of a more primitive branch of human evolution. But some evidence suggests that Neanderthals may have been equally intelligent. In particular, the average Neanderthal brain is larger than that of contemporary humans.

Other researchers have argued they lacked the vocal capabilities that permitted the evolution of human language, which could have led to an inferior ability to co-ordinate in competing for resources.