Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) have long remained an enigma for anthropologists. Their massive skulls, broad cheekbones, and prominent noses were traditionally seen as adaptations to harsh glacial climates. However, new data from an international team of researchers has challenged these long-held beliefs.
For years, scientists believed that the unusual structure of the Neanderthal nasal cavity enabled them to efficiently warm and humidify the air they breathed. The prevailing view in the scientific community was that their distinctive nasal bone features evolved in response to the cold and dry climate of Ice Age Europe. Among these adaptations were a vertical bony ridge, swelling on the nasal cavity walls, and the absence of a bony roof over the lacrimal groove.
However, most ancient human skulls have not been fully preserved: the delicate nasal bones were often destroyed or hidden under rock deposits, making it impossible to obtain a complete view of the internal structure. This changed after researchers studied a unique skeleton discovered in the Lamalunga cave near Altamura, Italy, back in 1993. The find, estimated to be 130,000–172,000 years old, remains partially embedded in rock and covered with calcite formations.
A research team led by Costantino Buzi from the University of Perugia has, for the first time, conducted a detailed examination of a skull using an endoscope. This allowed them to create a digital model of the internal bone structures of the nasal cavity, which have been exceptionally well preserved.
The results were unexpected. Inside the skull, none of the features previously thought to be typical of Neanderthals were found. There was no vertical ridge, no distinctive bumps, nor any other traits supposedly linked to cold adaptation. It turned out these details cannot be considered universal for the entire species.
The researchers concluded that the large Neanderthal nose did not develop as a necessity to warm the air, but rather as a part of the generally robust proportions of the skull. At the same time, the large nasal turbinates may have indeed aided in warming inhaled air, but this was not the primary reason for their development.
The conclusions of the Italian scientists are consistent with other recent studies analyzing changes in the neck and facial structure of Neanderthals over different periods. These studies showed that evolutionary changes affected several areas of the skeleton simultaneously, and the characteristic facial features may have been a side effect of these processes, not a direct response to climate challenges.
Thus, the familiar image of the Neanderthal with a prominent nose is now seen as the result of complex changes in skull structure, rather than a specialized adaptation to cold. These new findings reshape our understanding of how the appearance of our ancient relatives developed and which factors influenced it.
