Pathology and the Posture of Neanderthal Man

Abstract

There is nothing in the total morphological pattern of Neanderthal man to justify the common assumption that he was other than a fully erect biped when standing and walking. The fact that the "old man" of La Chapelle-Aux-Saints, the postural prototype of Neanderthal man, did actually stand and walk with a pathological kyphosis is due to the fact that his spinal column, particularly the cervical component, was severely affected by a deforming arthritis. The La Quinta and La Ferrassie skull specimens exhibit other evidences of osteroarthritis of Neanderthal man.