Neanderthal infants grew faster and were physically larger than modern human babies of the same age, according to a new study published in Current Biology. Researchers reached this conclusion after analyzing one of the most complete Neanderthal infant skeletons ever found, offering fresh insight into how these ancient humans developed in early life.
The skeleton, known as Amud 7, belonged to an infant between six and fourteen months old. It was discovered in Amud Cave in northern Israel, first excavated in the 1960s and again in the 1990s. The site dates back roughly 51,000 to 56,000 years. Researchers recovered nearly 111 bone fragments from the infant at the site.
Amud Cave yields the most complete infant remains
Ella Been, the lead author from Ono Academic College in Israel, said Amud 7 is the most complete Neanderthal infant skeleton known in this age range.
The bones show clear Neanderthal features in both the skull and the rest of the body, making it a key reference for understanding how this species grew and changed during infancy.
New research finds Neanderthal infants grew faster than Homo sapiens, shedding light on the distinct developmental path that set this ancient species apart. pic.twitter.com/BCzR39mBnH
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) April 17, 2026
The analysis revealed that the infant showed signs of unusually rapid physical growth. The skull also grew quickly, suggesting the brain was developing at an accelerated pace alongside the body. Been noted that supporting both brain and body growth at the same time would have required enormous amounts of energy.
Neanderthal infants grew faster than modern human babies
Other rare Neanderthal infant remains show the same pattern, researchers said. This points to a consistent difference in how Neanderthals developed compared to modern humans, rather than an isolated case.
The findings add to a growing body of evidence that Neanderthals followed a developmental path that was distinct from that of Homo sapiens. Researchers said this highlights the diversity of growth strategies among early human species.
Amud 7 now helps fill a major gap in the fossil record. It connects younger Neanderthal newborns to older juveniles, giving scientists a clearer picture of how this species matured from birth through childhood.
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