Assessment Questions 5.3

The passage challenges the stereotype of Neandertals as "big dumb guys" by presenting evidence that they were not primitive or brutish but rather another group of premodern human beings. It criticizes the caricatured image of Neandertals as ugly, apelike, violent, and stupid. Instead, the passage highlights that Neandertals were an intelligent, successful species with a sophisticated tool kit, a mastery of fire, and even evidence of producing art in the form of cave paintings. The passage refutes the notion that Neandertals were simply club-toting caricatures and provides a more accurate and nuanced view of their characteristics and abilities.

The Neandertal cranial morphology differs from modern humans in several ways. While Neandertals often had larger brains than modern humans, the shape of their cranium was different. The Neandertal cranial profile is flatter when viewed from the side, contrasting with the round profile of modern human heads. The configuration of the Neandertal brain showed less expansion in the front and more in the rear, with a different development pattern in the temporal lobes during early childhood compared to modern humans. Neandertal skulls featured prominent brow ridges, protruding lower faces, and a large mass of bone at the rear of the skull. The face was large, with a wide and flaring nasal bridge, lacking the thin, pointy chin typical of modern humans. These differences are significant in understanding the distinct features of Neandertals and their adaptations.

Musculoskeletal hypertrophy refers to great size and associated strength in the muscles and bones of a species or individual. In the case of Neandertals, they exhibit musculoskeletal hypertrophy throughout various areas of their skeleton. Neandertals were generally short and stocky compared to modern humans, with broad and powerful shoulders indicated by the breadth of their scapulae and the length of their clavicles. Their upper arm bones and forearms showed tremendous strength, with large areas for muscle attachment. Neandertal ribs and vertebrae also displayed larger areas for muscle attachment compared to modern humans. The robustness and strength in these skeletal features suggest that Neandertals had a brawn approach to environmental adaptation, favoring physical strength and power.