Radiographic study of the humerus in Neandertals and Homo sapiens sapiens

Standardized mediolateral and anteroposterior radiographs of Neandertal and early and recent Homo sapiens sapiens humeri were taken from Europe and Israel. From these radiographs, maximum diameter and combined cortical thickness (CCT) were measured using vernier calipers. Cross‐sectional cortical area (CA), section modulus, and moment of inertia (I) were calculated using the appropriate formulae. Male Neandertals had higher values for all parameters examined than early or recent H. sapiens s. and these differences were statistically significant in the right arm (P < 0.05). No significant differences in any parameter were found between early and recent H. sapiens s. Differences between female Neandertals and H. sapiens s. were less marked than those found between males. The male Neandertals also showed greater right‐left asymmetry in CCT, cortical area, section modulus, and moment of inertia than either female Neandertals or early or recent male H. sapiens s. These findings add further support to hypotheses suggesting marked differences in muscle mass between Neandertals and H. sapiens s. They also indicate greater weight and/or functional differences between sexes in Neandertals than in H. sapiens s.