The Neanderthal pelvis, a basin-shaped ring of bone at the base of the gyre discovered decades ago, may help explain an unusual feature of modern human anatomy: why men and women have such different pelvic shapes.
Neanderthal reconstruction. Image credit: Neanderthal Museum.
“Until the discovery of a nearly complete male Neanderthal pelvis in the early 1980s (in Israel’s Kebara Cave), little was known about the overall anatomy of the Neanderthal pelvis,” said Professor Ella Bean of Ono Academic College and colleagues.
“The small number of dissected pelvic fragments already available suggested significant differences between Neanderthal pelvises and those of modern humans, primarily men.”
In the new study, the authors compared the Neanderthal pelvis known as Quevara 2, and another Neanderthal pelvis from Sima de los Huesos, Spain, with 63 modern human male pelvises and 28 female female pelvises.
They found that in some important ways, Neanderthal males were more similar to modern human females than to males.
The main difference is the position of the hip joint, or acetabulum. In modern men, the joint is located further anterior to the pelvic brim. This change involves the superior pubic ramus, the part of the bone that extends toward the front of the pelvis, becoming shorter and thicker.
In Neanderthal males, the hip joint was located further back, leaving a long, thin branch, and this configuration is also seen in modern human females.
The researchers propose that the forward position of modern men’s hips may have turned the pelvis into a kind of shock absorber.
“At each stage of bipedal locomotion, the body’s center of gravity moves downwards,” says Professor Yoel Ruck of Tel Aviv University.
“This fall damages your joints and requires energy to lift your body up again for the next step.”
“According to the new model, the distinctive shape of the male pelvis allows the thigh muscles to buffer the body’s lower center of gravity, store potential energy during a step, and release that energy immediately afterwards, effectively ‘jumping’ the body upward toward the next step.” ”
“In this way, the pelvis acts as a natural shock absorber and energy return system.”
“This could reduce energy consumption and improve walking efficiency, thereby providing significant benefits for long-distance walking trips.”
“The change in hip position also required additional structural adaptations, such as thickening the pubic bone and deepening the anterior part of the pelvis to withstand the new mechanical loads.”
Scientists also suggest that this adaptation may have emerged after the evolutionary split between Neanderthals and Neanderthals. homo sapiens.
They argue that modern human women retain a more ancestral pelvic shape because changes that narrow or deepen the pelvis may interfere with the demands of childbirth.
“Our research shows that questions about human evolution are not limited to the distant past,” Professor Bean said.
“Understanding the evolution of our walking mechanisms can contribute to modern research in biomechanics, musculoskeletal medicine, rehabilitation, and injury prevention.”
“The perspective provided by Neanderthals can help us better understand the modern human body.”
of result Published in a magazine published on July 31st scientific report.
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Y rack others. A Neanderthal pelvis reveals a specialized human male walking device. science officerpublished online on July 31, 2026. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-59915-8
Source: www.sci.news
