Computer simulations show that Neanderthal facial morphology represents adaptation to cold and high energy demands, but not heavy biting
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Three adaptive hypotheses have been forwarded to explain the distinctive Neanderthal face: (i) an improved ability to accommodate high anterior bite forces, (ii) more effective conditioning of cold and/or dry air and, (iii) adaptation to facilitate greater ventilatory demands. We test these hypotheses using three-dimensional models of Neanderthals, modern humans, and a close outgroup (Homo heidelbergensis), applying finite-element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). This is the most comprehensive application of either approach applied to date and the first to include both. FEA reveals few differences between H. heidelbergensis, modern humans, and Neanderthals in their capacities to sustain high anterior tooth loadings. CFD shows that the nasal cavities of Neanderthals and especially modern humans condition air more efficiently than does that of H. heidelbergensis, suggesting that both evolved to better withstand cold and/or dry climates than less derived Homo. We further find that Neanderthals could move considerably more air through the nasal pathway than could H. heidelbergensis or modern humans, consistent with the propositions that, relative to our outgroup Homo, Neanderthal facial morphology evolved to reflect improved capacities to better condition cold, dry air, and, to move greater air volumes in response to higher energetic requirements.
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Adaptive explanations for an enlarged midface and large brows have focused either on enlargement of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses emphasizing respiratory/energetic demands and climatic adaptation, or on mechanical adaptations to diet, paramasticatory activity, or increase in body size.
“Adaptive explanations for an enlarged midface and large brows have focused either on enlargement of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses emphasizing respiratory/energetic demands 56 and climatic adaptation 57,58 , or on mechanical adaptations to diet, paramasticatory activity 59,60 , or increase in body size [61][62][63][64]”
From The evolutionary history of the human face (2019) · cites this paper as [58]
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The evolutionary history of the human face
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- Authors
- Wroe, S., Parr, W. C. H., Ledogar, J. A., Bourke, J., Evans, S. P., Fiorenza, L., Benazzi, S., Hublin, J.-J., Stringer, C., Kullmer, O., Curry, M., Rae, T. C., & Yokley, T. R.
- Affiliations
- University of New England (AU)
- UNSW Sydney (AU)
- New York Institute of Technology (US)
- University of Newcastle Australia (AU)
- Monash University (AU)
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (DE)
- Natural History Museum (GB)
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt/M (DE)
- University of Roehampton (GB)
- Metropolitan State University of Denver (US)
- Corresponding author
- Wroe, Stephen
- Parr, William C. H.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
- Publisher
- The Royal Society
- Published
- 2018-04-04
- Volume
- 285
- Issue
- 1876
- Pages
- 20180085
- ISSN
- 0080-4649 (ISSN-L)
- 0962-8452
- 1471-2954
- PMC
- PMC5904316
- OpenAlex
- W2795925861
- Cited by
- 90
- References
- 61
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 5
- FWCI
- 51.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Monash University Research Portal (Monash University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- HAL (submittedVersion)
- Archivio istituzionale della ricerca (Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna) (submittedVersion)
- Max Planck Digital Library (submittedVersion)
- MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
- RUNE (Research UNE) (submittedVersion)
- NOVA (University of Newcastle Australia) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Australian Research Council (DP140102659)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Anthropology › Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Geometry and Topology › Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
- Keywords
- Homo heidelbergensis, cold adaptation, bite force, ventilatory demand, energy demand, finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics, airway airflow
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Physiological, Animals, Bite Force, Climate, Computer Simulation, Face, Fossils, Humans, Nasal Cavity, Hominidae, Neanderthals
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