The number of Stone Age people who became extinct about 40,000 years ago was much higher than ours. Moreover, a Neanderthal thumb would have stuck out of his hand at a very wide angle.
“If you go to shake hands with Neanderthals, you’ll see the difference,” said Emilyn Bardo, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Kent’s School of Anthropology and Conservation in the United Kingdom.
“There will be confusion about where to put the thumb, and for the thumb fight I think you will win in terms of speed and movement!” He said via email.
Neanderthals used their hands differently from ours in a new study published Thursday in the journal Scientific Reports Suggested. “Squeeze grips” would have been much easier – we used grips when we held tools with handles like hammers, ”said Bardo, our archaeologist and lead study author.
To find out how Neanderthals use their hands, what Bardo and his colleagues said was a unique approach.
Other studies have determined how the shape of the toe bones differs between Neanderthals and modern humans, as well as other fossilized human relatives. In most research to date, only Looked at the bones in solitude — till now.
Analysis of joint movement
Researchers used 3D mapping to analyze the joints between the bones responsible for toe movement – known as “trapeziometarpal complexes” from the remains of five trendythal individuals. Scientists then compared the results with measurements taken from the remains of five early modern humans and 500 recent modern adults.
“Our study is a novel look at how the differences in the shape and direction of different bones and joints relate to each other.”
“The movement and loading of the toes is only possible through these bones, as well as the ligaments and muscles, so they need to be studied together,” he said.
Barrow said his fuzzy hands possibly indicate a lack of agility, the Neanderthals were certainly able to use precision grip – just like we hold a pencil, Bardo said.
“The joint at the base of the toe of the Neanderthal fossils is crisp with a small surface of contact between the bones, which is more appropriate to the extended toe on the side of the hand.” “The posture of this thumb indicates regular use of ‘squeeze’ grips.”
In contrast, the human toe has a joint surface that is usually larger and more curved, “when holding objects between the finger and toe pads, one has the advantage of holding with precision.”
Powerful squeeze grips will help Neanderthals catch spears while hunting and use stone scrapers or knives for wood or animal skins. Barso said it should be difficult for Homo neanderthalnesis, however, to use strong precision like pieces of stone between the finger and toe pads to cut the meat.
However, she notes that there is a big difference when it comes to ingenuity in modern humans – and it can be in Neanderthals as well.
“Their hand anatomy and archaeological records make it abundantly clear that Neanderthals were very intelligent, cultured tool users and use the same tools that contemporary modern humans do,” Bardo said.
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