Neanderthal reconstructed.

ABSTRACT

A century and a half of controversy concerning the differences between Neanderthals (or Neandertals) and modern humans has left us with many questions and no sign of abatement. One of these remaining questions concerns the articulated structure of the Neanderthal skeleton and how it compares to that of a modern human. Although this question has been tackled many times by more artistic avenues, never has a complete, fully articulated Neanderthal skeleton been constructed systematically using castings from real Neanderthal bones. In an attempt to provide a more objective understanding of Neanderthal stature and biomechanics, a complete Neanderthal skeleton was reconstructed and articulated. This reconstruction was primarily based on the La Ferrassie 1 specimen, with missing or incomplete elements filled in from other Neanderthal cast collections.