Virtual microanatomy of perinatal development in Neanderthals

Abstract

Understanding how Neanderthal newborns developed has been challenging because very few infant skeletons have been discovered. In this Working Paper I will present the results of a collaborative project using non destructive micro CT scanning analysing bones and deciduous teeth of three Neanderthal infants from Sesselfelsgrotte in Germany (dated to 90–50kya). The first individual shows bone structures that closely resemble those of modern human infants in the late third trimester. The long bones appear slightly more advanced in their development than parts of the skull, which may reflect normal differences in how these regions ossify, or possibly indicate somewhat faster localised growth compared to modern humans. In the other two individuals, the deciduous teeth contain areas of under mineralised dentine, which often reflects some kind of metabolic stress during foetal development. Overall, we suggest that Neanderthal foetal bone growth, at least in our samples, followed a pattern broadly similar to that of modern humans, with some localised differences. The dental abnormalities hint at experiences of prenatal stress or health issues. Our study contributes new microanatomical data and insights into early development of Neanderthals.

About the presenters

Dr Justyna Miszkiewicz 

Justyna is an ARC Future Fellow in the UQ School of Social Science. She obtained her PhD from the University of Kent in the UK in 2014 and has since worked in various teaching and research roles at Imperial College London, ANU, Naturalis Biodiversity Center in the Netherlands, the Australian Government, and now UQ. She specialises in the analysis of skeletal microstructure which she applies to address questions of bioarchaeological, forensic, biomedical, and palaeontological significance.