Neanderthal Infant from Amud Cave Sheds New Light on Neanderthal Development

Date

Sunday, 18 October, 2026

An international research team led by Dr. Alon Barash of the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine at Bar-Ilan University and Prof. Ella Been of Ono Academic College has published a groundbreaking study in Current Biology describing the most complete Neanderthal infant skeleton discovered to date.

The remains belong to a Neanderthal infant who lived approximately 51,000-56,000 years ago and was between 6 and 14 months old at the time of death. Discovered in Amud Cave in the Galilee, the skeleton provides an unprecedented look at physical development during early infancy among Neanderthals.

The researchers found that distinctive Neanderthal features were already present at a very young age, including robust limb bones, a strongly curved clavicle, unique shoulder and pelvic anatomy, and the absence of a chin. These findings suggest that the physical differences between Neanderthals and modern humans were deeply rooted in Neanderthal biology rather than being shaped primarily by environment or lifestyle.

The study also revealed evidence of rapid early growth. The infant's body size and brain volume were comparable to those of a modern human infant several months older, pointing to a distinctive developmental pattern and high energy demands during infancy.

Using advanced micro-CT scanning and 3D digital reconstruction, the researchers created the most detailed model of a Neanderthal infant ever produced. Their findings offer important new insights into Neanderthal childhood and development, and contribute to a better understanding of what distinguished Neanderthals from modern humans.

Full article:
Been et al., “Rapid Growth in a Neandertal Infant from Amud Cave in Israel,” Current Biology, 2026.

A new study led by Dr. Alon Barash of the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine at Bar-Ilan University and Prof. Ella Been of Ono Academic College, published in Current Biology, describes the most complete Neanderthal infant skeleton discovered to date. The infant, who lived approximately 51,000-56,000 years ago and was discovered in Amud Cave in the Galilee, was between 6 and 14 months old at the time of death. The findings reveal that distinctive Neanderthal traits were already present in infancy and provide new evidence of rapid early growth. Using advanced 3D reconstruction techniques, the researchers gained valuable insights into Neanderthal development and the biological differences between Neanderthals and modern humans.

Last Updated Date : 18/10/2026