The Spirit in Human Evolution - Waldorf Research Institute

A Powerful Rhythmic System
Perhaps one should see this typical Neanderthal feature as expressive of a
powerful rhythmic system. The broad, barrel-shaped chest and wide shoulders are also
indications of a powerful respiratory system. The human head reflects the threefold
dynamic of the whole body, comprising the nerve-sense organs, rhythmic breathcirculatory
system and the metabolic-limb system. In the head these three elements
are combined in the domed cranium and main sense organs, the mid-face respiratory
organs and the lower jaw, the most limb-like part of the head. Perhaps the dominance
of the Neanderthal’s rhythmic system is reflected in the prominence of the mid-face. In
modern human anatomy this threefold dynamic has a more balanced proportion, with the
prominent and high forehead balanced by the chin, a feature unique to modern humans
(though present in reduced form in some Neanderthal specimens).
The architecture of the face reflects structural forces, such as the anchoring of the
face bones and the tooth arches, tooth root size and the thickness of the bone itself. It
also reflects the constitution of the whole organism, as indeed any part reflects to some
extent the morphology of the whole. Were this not the case, it would be impossible to
reconstruct skulls or whole skeletons on the basis of fragments.
Neanderthal Brains
Perhaps the most enigmatic feature of Neanderthal skulls is what was inside
them. Brains were well within the range of modern brains and in a number of cases
actually larger in terms of estimated volume. Modern brains average between 1,2001,500
ml in volume. Neanderthal females average 1,300 ml and males 1,600 ml, the Amud
man possessing 1,740 ml. Interestingly, early European and Asian Moderns also had
larger brains than “modern” Moderns. From the point of view of cerebral dominance,
Neanderthals show the same proportional hemispheric dominance as modern people,
which suggests a similar preponderance of right-handed people. It is assumed that this
large brain capacity had more to do with their generally large body-mass, and may also
be seen as a further cold-climate adaptation. However, it is not possible to infer anything
about intelligence from brain size at this level, except that, simply by virtue of possessing
such a large brain, we can only conclude that Neanderthals had as much neural potential
as we have. How they applied it can only be deduced from what archeology tells us of
their life-styles. Even then we should be cautious about equating technical skills with
the range of faculties a brain can provide. In the end we simply do not know what went
on in those brains.
Stature
Neanderthals were powerfully built, though relatively short and stocky. Men were
on average about 5’ 6” (169 cm), women about 5’ 3” (160 cm), the tallest known being
about 5’ 10” (179 cm). Relative to modern humans of the same height they were probably
heavier, excluding overweight Europeans and Americans! Their limbs were also on the
whole shorter. This anatomy seems well adapted to cold conditions in that it minimizes
surface area. In an abstract sense the Neanderthal gestalt tended to the spherical, while
the Moderns tend towards a more vertically stretched out gestalt.
By modern standards they were clearly extremely strong. Their joints were thick
and their bones generally far more robust than our more delicate skeleton. Their hands
were particularly strong, the last finger bones very broad. Though having a very strong
grip, their fingers were also capable of fine precision work. In short, they were built for
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