Handedness in Neanderthals

Abstract

The question of manual laterality in extinct hominins has long interested archeologists and paleoanthropologists. It is possible to approach this question using the fossil and archeological records. By drawing on several different categories of evidence, a more complete picture of Neanderthal handedness emerges. This shows that Neanderthals produced lateralized use-wear on stone and bone tools, made asymmetrical retouch patterns on artifacts, had strongly asymmetrical upper limbs, and display tooth striations consistent with right-handedness. The diverse categories of evidence all indicate a bias to the right side, which suggests that the Neanderthals were right-handed in high proportions just as are living people. It is the most robust and reliable evidence for prehistoric handedness out of all hominin species and it indicates the Neanderthals showed the population-level right-side bias that is a characteristic feature of humankind.