Image by Frank Rietsch from Pixabay
The question of whether Neanderthals, our ancient relatives, were capable of speech or complex language has long been a subject of intense debate. The 1989 discovery of the hyoid bone from a Neanderthal specimen at Kebara Cave in Israel reignited this debate. The hyoid is a small, U-shaped bone in the neck that plays a crucial role in the mechanics of speech. Gross anatomical comparisons between the Kebara Neanderthal hyoid and that of modern humans showed striking similarities, but whether Neanderthals could use speech in the same way we do remains a controversial topic.
Hyoid bone of male (A) human Homo sapiens and (B) chimpanzee Pan troglodytes. The human hyoid lacks the large and distinctive bulla of the chimpanzee hyoid. Specimens are research quality casts held at the University Museum, Trieste. Image published in PLoS One. 2013. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082261
New Findings on Hyoid Architecture and Function
Recent studies, including our own, have added new layers to this debate by examining not just the outward appearance of the Neanderthal hyoid, but also its internal architecture and biomechanical properties. Using advanced technologies such as CT scans, histological analysis, and computational modelling, we have gained a more detailed understanding of the internal structure and stress distribution within the Neanderthal hyoid bone. These methods allowed us to build 3D models of the hyoid and simulate how it would behave under the same loads and muscle attachments that modern human hyoids experience.
Computational biomechanical analyses of hyoid models.
Surface von Mises stress distributions are visualised for the hyoid models of (A) Homo neanderthalensis (Kebara 2) and (B-D) three humans Homo sapiens. The stress distribution plots on the left show the von Mises stress for each model, while the graph on the right represents von Mises stress for internal elements along a straight line drawn between the maximum lateral width of each hyoid, where the body would connect with the greater cornua (greater horns). Image published in D’Anastasio et al., 2013 PLOS ONE. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082261.g004
The results were fascinating. We found that the internal architecture of the Neanderthal hyoid bone closely resembles that of modern humans. This similarity in the bone’s internal structure, combined with the way muscles would have been attached, suggests that the Neanderthals’ hyoid could have functioned in much the same way as ours.
Implications for the Evolution of Language
Internal bone architecture reflects the forces regularly placed on it, and the similarity between Neanderthal and modern human hyoids supports the idea that Neanderthals may have had the anatomical capability to produce complex vocalizations. The ability to speak would require more than just a similar bone structure, but the fact that their hyoid bone was biomechanically similar to that of humans makes the case for Neanderthal speech more plausible.
While we can’t say with certainty whether Neanderthals had the capacity for speech in the way we do, our findings are significant. They show that Neanderthals had the anatomical capability to produce complex sounds, a key component of speech. This adds another piece to the puzzle of understanding the cognitive and communicative abilities of our closest extinct relatives.
The study of the Neanderthal hyoid bone is just one example of how advances in technology are shedding new light on our ancient ancestors. With more detailed reconstructions and biomechanical models, we can continue to explore the physical and perhaps even the cultural traits that made Neanderthals uniquely human.
Conclusion
While questions surrounding the extent of Neanderthal speech and language remain, our research suggests that the hyoid bone of Homo neanderthalensis was capable of functioning much like that of modern humans. This discovery brings us one step closer to understanding the nature of Neanderthal communication and, by extension, the evolution of human language itself.
Marie Attard 