Neanderthal Infants Grew Faster Than Modern Humans, Study Finds
The Amud 7 Neanderthal infant from Amud Cave in Israel—dated to about 51,000–56,000 years ago and the most complete Neanderthal infant skeleton found—shows Neanderthal babies grew their bodies faster than modern human babies, with rapid somatic growth outpacing tooth development (teeth suggested an age closer to six months, vs. about 13.7 months for bone growth). This accelerated early growth, including larger skulls, likely reflects an evolutionary strategy to adapt to harsh environments, with growth trajectories eventually converging with Homo sapiens.
