Neanderthals Unveiled: Surprising Evidence of Human-Like Speech

A study published in 2021 reveals that Neanderthals had the capacity to perceive and produce human speech, challenging the notion that they were less intelligent than modern humans. Using high-resolution CT scans of Neanderthal skulls, researchers created virtual 3D models of their ear structures and found that Neanderthals had better hearing in the 4 to 5 kilohertz range, similar to modern humans. The occupied bandwidth of Neanderthals extended into frequencies involved in consonant production, suggesting a complex and efficient communication system. The findings support the idea that Neanderthals possessed a type of human language, different from any other oral communication system used by non-human organisms.