Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

Neanderthals could hear like we can

Modelling of Neanderthal ear canals reveals they were tuned to certain sounds that are common in modern speech.
Neanderthal model

Unlike chimpanzees, Neanderthals (artist’s illustration) might have heard consonants more easily than vowels. Credit: S. Plailly/E. Daynes/Science Photo Library

The anatomy and physiology of the Neanderthal ear suggests that these early humans could communicate much like modern humans do.

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Get just this article for as long as you need it

$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Nature 591, 181 (2021)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-00554-6

References

Subjects

Latest on:

Nature Careers

Jobs

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing

Search

Advanced search

Quick links