Статья предлагает новую гипотезу, объясняющую специфическую морфологию черепа неандертальского человека Такие характерные для «классических» неандертальцев особенности морфологии черепа, как лицевой прогнатизм, оттянутые назад скуловые дуги, «мигрировавшие» вперёд зубные дуги и ретромолярный промежуток, с одной стороны, и вытянутая назад низкая мозговая коробка, «шиньонообразный выступ» на затылке и сдвинутый вперёд по отношению к слуховым отверстиям foramen magnum, c другой, стороны являются функционально и топографически взаимозависящими и удерживают череп в состоянии равновесия при прямохождении. Вытянутая в переднезаднем направлении «телескопическая» форма лица неандертальского человека привела к одновременному вытягиванию задней половины черепа с целью уравновесить голову на точке опоры – шейном отделе позвоночника. Возможно, эволюционные изменения лица неандертальцев были связаны с их специализацией в направлении хищничества: крупные, лопатовидные и как бы выступающие вперёд резцы являются удобным приспособлением для поедания мяса животных. Использование мясной пищи и, в частности, обгладывание костей, объясняет специфическую изношенность передних зубов неандертальцев с лабиальной стороны. Увеличенный объём носовой полости неандертальского человека мог быть связан с увеличением площади обонятельного эпителия также как следствие эволюционного отбора в направлении хищничества и, в том числе, усиления значения ольфакторной системы, что должно обеспечить успех в охоте и конкурентной борьбе с настоящими специализированными хищниками.

Particularităţile biomecanice şi ecomorfologice ale craniului omului de Neanderthal Articolul oferă o nouă ipoteză pentru a explica morfologia specifică a craniului omului neanderthalian. Caracteristicile morfologice tipice ale craniului omului de Neanderthal „clasic”, cum ar fi pe de o parte prognatismul facial, arcadele zigomatice trase înapoi, arcada dentară „migrată” înainte şi decalajul retromolar, şi pe de altă parte partea cerebrală a craniului aplatizată de sus şi alunjită, partea occipitală a craniului proeminentă şi deplasare anterioară a lui foramen magnum în raport cu meatusuri auditive sunt funcţional şi topografic interdependente şi au funcţia de a mentine capul în echilibru ţinînd cont de postura ortograda a omului de Neanderthal. Splanchnocraniul „telescopic” alungit în direcţie anteroposterioară a cauzat o întindere simultană a părţii posterioare a craniului pentru a menţine craniul în stare de echilibru pe punctul de sprijin - coloanei cervicale. Posibil că schimbări evolutive ale omului de Neanderthal au fost legate de specializarea lui în direcţia prădării: incisivi proeminenţi şi comparativ mari în formă de lopată reprezintă un dispozitiv convenabil pentru consumarea hranei. Dieta bazata pe carne, şi, în special, roaderea oaselor explica uzarea specifică din partea labiala (anterioară) a dinţilor din faţă a omului de Neanderthal. Volumul majorat al cavităţii nazale a omului de Neanderthal ar putea fi asociat cu o creştere suprafeței a epiteliului olfactiv, ca urmare selecţiei evolutive spre prădare, care include şi amplificărea capacităţilor a sistemului olfactiv şi prezintă o condiţie importantă pentru asigurare succesului în vânătoare şi competiţie cu animalele carnivore.

Biomechanical and eco-morphological peculiarities of Neanderthal skull The overview of previously proposed hypotheses on morphological and functional adaptations of the Neanderthal face (an adaptation to the cold climate, a biomechanical adaptation to alternative use of the front teeth in processing materials or to manipulate objects, and a random genetic drift in small isolated populations) showed that none of them are able to explain fully the morphological features of the skull of Neanderthals. The present work propose to regard the human skull as an integral functional system. It is noteworthy that many of the characteristic for the „classic” Neanderthal skull morphology features, such as the facial prognathism, the drawn back cheekbones, the „migrated” forward dental arches and the retromolar gap on one hand and the low cranial vault, the high degree of posterior projection of the occipital bone (bunning), and the anteriorly shifted foramen magnum with respect to auditory meatus on the other hand are most probably functionally and topographically correlated and maintain the skull in equilibrium during the orthograde posture. Therefore, the anteroposterior extension of the facial part of skull should cause the simultaneous anteroposterior extension of the braincase in order to keep the mass centre of head above the bearing point (neck). Most likely, the morphological and functional changes of the facial part of the Neanderthal skull were the driving force that caused the development of specific low and elongated shape of braincase. Perhaps, the evolutionary changes of the face of Neanderthals were connected to their specialization in the direction of predation: the large, strong, shovel-like and protruding incisors represent a quite convenient device for animal meat consumption, while the grinding function of relatively small cheek teeth is diminished. The consumption of animal meat, and in particular, the bone gnawing, could explain the specific for Neanderthals wear of front teeth on their labial side. Perhaps, the increased volume of the nasal cavity of Neanderthals was associated with an increased area of the olfactory epithelium as a result of evolutionary selection in the direction of predation and, in particular, the strengthening the olfactory capacity, which should ensure success in hunting and competition with carnivores. However, the available data on the anatomy and genetics of Neanderthals (the relatively small olfactory bulb and the higher number of inactive olfactory genes if compared to modern humans) are in conflict with the proposed hypothesis. Possibly, the evolution of Neanderthals in the direction of predation could be relatively short and superimposed on the previous evolutionary path toward a weakening of the olfactory sensory system.