Anatomy of Neanderthal nasal cavity

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences—A study* uncovers the inner nasal anatomy of a Neanderthal skeleton from Italy. The morphology of the nasal cavity of Neanderthals has been purported to represent distinctive adaptations to cold climates. However, fossil evidence of the inner nasal morphology in Neanderthals is lacking, preventing a direct assessment of adaptations. Costantino Buzi, Giorgio Manzi, and colleagues report the complete preservation of the inner nasal structure in a Neanderthal fossil skeleton from the Lamalunga karstic system, located near Altamura in southern Italy. The specimen is between 130,000 and 172,000 years old, and its inner nasal morphology was recorded and digitally reconstructed by using endoscopic technology on site. Previous hypotheses proposed that Neanderthals would have unique structures, such as a vertical medial projection and a swelling on the nasal cavity walls. The Altamura specimen showed no such features, ruling out the features as distinctive traits of the Neanderthal nasal anatomy. Further, the authors analyzed the anatomical factors underlying the characteristic Neanderthal midfacial morphology and concluded that it is unlikely to be directly shaped by upper respiratory adaptations. According to the authors, the findings reframe aspects of Neanderthal functional anatomy and provide a basis for modeling Neanderthal respiratory performance.

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Frontal view of the Neanderthal cranium from Altamura (southern Italy). Credit: K.A.R.S.T. PRIN Project

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Digital reconstruction of the right nasal hemicavity (in yellow) of the Neanderthal cranium from Altamura (transparent, superimposed). Credit: Costantino Buzi

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Article Source: PNAS news release.