Neanderthal Toddlers Grew Up Faster, Hinting at Harsh-Environment Adaptations

A 2026 study of Amud 7, a Neanderthal infant from Amud Cave in Israel, finds Neanderthal toddlers grew faster in early childhood than modern humans, suggesting an adaptive strategy to harsh environments; growth trajectories diverged from Homo sapiens in infancy but aligned more closely later in childhood, highlighting different evolutionary paths since the split ~600,000 years ago; more non-adult Neanderthal skeletons are needed to determine how widespread this pattern was.