Trending Now - Neanderthal Infants Grew Rapidly, Reaching Toddler Size in Months

WHO:

Yahoo - A team of scientists based in Israel and Europe conducted the study.

ZME Science - Ella Been, a professor at Ono Academic College in Israel, is the first author of the study.

WHAT:

Yahoo - The new paper published in the journal Current Biology is the first comprehensive study of the Amud 7 child's 111 recovered bones.

ZME Science - The Amud 7 skeleton is one of the most complete Neanderthal babies ever found.

ZME Science - The brain size of the Neanderthal infant, Amud 7, is estimated at nearly 880 cubic centimeters, matching that of an older modern child.

ZME Science - Researchers identified three different growth stages in juvenile Neanderthals, with a significant surge in body and brain growth in infants like Amud 7.

Yahoo - The remains of a six-month-old Neanderthal child were analyzed, revealing it was comparable in size to a one-year-old modern human.

ZME Science - The Neanderthal infant, known as Amud 7, had a brain size estimated at nearly 880 cubic centimeters and skeletal features indicating it was around 5.5 to 6 months old.

ZME Science - The study identified three different growth stages in juvenile Neanderthals, with a significant surge in body and brain growth in infants like Amud 7.

WHERE:

Yahoo - The Neanderthal child was buried in a cave in Northern Israel.

ZME Science - The Amud 7 skeleton was discovered in a cave near the Sea of Galilee.

WHEN:

Yahoo - The Neanderthal child lived approximately 51,000 to 56,000 years ago.

ZME Science - The Amud 7 skeleton was found in the 1990s, and the remains were excavated in the 1960s.

WHY:

Yahoo - The rapid growth of Neanderthal infants may have been an adaptation to survive in harsh Paleolithic conditions.

ZME Science - Neanderthals likely evolved to grow quickly to retain body heat better and achieve physical independence sooner in a fluctuating Ice Age climate.

HOW:

ZME Science - Researchers determined the age of Amud 7 by examining microscopic growth lines in the dental enamel and the eruption stage of the jaw.

Yahoo - Researchers used histological analysis of the teeth to determine the age of the Neanderthal child.

ZME Science - The study involved a thorough 3D reconstruction of the 111 skeletal pieces recovered from the cave floor.

(UPDATED April 19, 2026 09:11 UTC)

A new paper published in the journal Current Biology reveals that the Amud 7 child's skeleton, one of the most complete Neanderthal babies ever found, consists of 111 recovered bones. Researchers estimate the brain size of the Amud 7 infant at nearly 880 cubic centimeters, which is comparable to that of an older modern child, and they identified three distinct growth stages in juvenile Neanderthals, noting a significant surge in body and brain growth in infants like Amud 7. To determine the age of this remarkable find, researchers examined microscopic growth lines in the dental enamel and the eruption stage of the jaw.

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(UPDATED April 18, 2026 21:13 UTC)

A team of scientists from Israel and Europe has conducted a groundbreaking study on the remains of a six-month-old Neanderthal child, known as Amud 7, which were found in a cave near the Sea of Galilee and date back approximately 51,000 to 56,000 years. The analysis revealed that Amud 7 had a brain size of nearly 880 cubic centimeters and exhibited significant growth patterns, indicating that Neanderthal infants experienced rapid body and brain development to adapt to the harsh conditions of the Paleolithic era. Researchers utilized histological analysis of the teeth and a detailed 3D reconstruction of the 111 skeletal pieces to determine the child's age and growth stages, shedding light on the evolutionary strategies of Neanderthals.