Posted on 10/28/2008 7:45:29 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
The traditional answer has been that Neanderthals have a big nose because they have a big mouth and a wide jaw, useful for ripping apart tough food, says Nathan Holton, a paleoanthropologist at the University of Iowa.
Why, then, do Neanderthals have faces that jut further out than humans? "They had them because earlier hominids had them," Houlton says.
He laments the tendency of some anthropologists to "atomise the body", and explain each of its part as an exquisite adaptation to an environment. Selection for strong jaws and teeth has been a favourite explanation for other Neanderthal facial features, as well as nose size.
"There's no real good evidence to say that Neanderthals are producing these high levels of bite force to begin with," he says.
Weaver agrees. "A lot of these anatomical differences are probably more likely due to these chance changes," he says.
(Excerpt) Read more at newscientist.com ...
To keep their pants up?
The Neandertal EnigmaFrayer's own reading of the record reveals a number of overlooked traits that clearly and specifically link the Neandertals to the Cro-Magnons. One such trait is the shape of the opening of the nerve canal in the lower jaw, a spot where dentists often give a pain-blocking injection. 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." [pp 126-127]
by James Shreeve
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To play in the NBA ?
Jimmy Durante’s relatives?
(no, I’m not that old, but dad had a few video’s of him - The Schnoz!)
Because they had big fingers?
Because otherwise they’d smell even worse?
The better to smell you with my dear....
Ahhhh... good one!
Ha!
because their mommies and daddies had big noses.
I hope I’m not related to Neanderthals, because I have a big nose...
Have you seen the size of their fingers???
Cause rhinoplasty hadn’t been invented yet?
Darn you.
Sounds like a good enough reason. I’ve always noticed the correlation between finger and nostril size. I cannot believe that I am writing this, but, I have actually had this conversation with my husband.
Nope. Because neanderthals were really just human beings that lived a very long time. Brow ridges and noses, and chins all become larger the longer you’re alive. Your nose keeps growing, and bones get larger through long periods of use.
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