[Growth and developmental patterns in Neandertals].

Abstract

Growth and development in Neandertals have been focused on in terms of the appearance of the human growth pattern in hominid evolution. Recently, more attention has been drawn to the aspects of growth in human evolution, although their significance was recognized from long before. One recently refined method is to use the perikymata counts on the enamel surface, which provide an absolute duration time of tooth crown development and therefore make possible comparisons in timings of developmental events. Another is to evaluate the relative timing and speed of developmental events from teeth, skull, and postcranial bones. In general, the hominid growth pattern would change from ape-like to human-like during the evolutionary process. It is still uncertain, however, when and where the exact event happened and the developmental pattern changed. As for the growth in Neandertals, it has been suggested that they would have grown relatively slowly in their childhood as modern humans do, while the appearance of the adolescent growth spurt and the duration time of their adolescence or childhood period are still obscure. More concrete and precise data are needed for a reasonable understanding of evolution of hominid growth for both modern humans and fossil hominids, in terms of: 1. more data of individual morphological traits applicable to fossil hominids, which increase the number of available fossil specimens; 2. variation of the traits in modern and archeological specimens, particularly in relation to environmental stress; 3. interaction or interrelationship between dental, cranial and postcranial development.