Analyzing the fossil remains of Neanderthal fingers, scientists from the universities of Liverpool, Southampton and Calgary in the United Kingdom have concluded that Neanderthals were more promiscuous than modern humans . The results of the study are published today in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
The scientists used finger rates from the skeletons of primitive apes and extinct hominins ( Ardipithecus ramidus and Australopithecus afarensis) as indicators of the levels of exposure of the species to prenatal androgens , a group of hormones that is important in the development of male characteristics. like aggressiveness and promiscuity . Androgens, including testosterone, are thought to affect the length of the fingers during development in the womb. Elevated levels of the hormones increase the length of the fourth finger compared to the second finger, leading to a low rate of the ring finger. In contrast, monogamous species have a high index.
In the case of Neanderthals , the rate turned out to be lower than in modern humans, indicating that they were exposed to more prenatal androgens and therefore "were more competitive and promiscuous," according to the study authors.
