Neandertal faces were not long; modern human faces are short.
Neandertal faces have been described as being derived with respect to their overall length or degree of anterior projection. A comparison of cranial and mandibular indicators of lower facial projection across archaic and modern Homo indicates that Neandertal facial lengths on average are similar to those of preceding archaic Homo and principally contrast with those of recent humans. Neandertal facial length is not derived. The shortness of recent human facial skeletons is the evolutionarily derived condition.
Trinkaus
Erik
E
Department of Anthropology, Campus Box 1114, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA. trinkaus@artsci.wustl.edu
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002508:Cephalometry; D003395:Craniology; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005580:Fossils; D015186:Hominidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D044469:Racial Groups; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology