[Jessarah]

In many Neandertal, the upper portion of the opening is covered by a broad bony ridge, a curious feature also carried by a significant number of Cro-Magnons. But none of the alleged 'ancestors of us all' fossils from Africa have it, and it is extremely rare in modern people outside Europe."

Do you know of any scientist ever speculating what function the "broad bony bridge" would have?

[SunkenCiv]

:')

[Renfield]

I don't know about scientists' speculations, but my guess is that it protects against nerve damage in a fistfight.

A lot of people wonder what supraorbital ridges ("brow-ridges") are for. I suspect they are an adaptation that protects the eye orbital from being crushed when a blow to the front of the head is sustained. Remember, life for cave men was nasty, brutish, and short.