Chapter 1: Ancient Ailments in Hominids

The discovery of a Neanderthal thumb phalanx with osteoarthritis serves as a fascinating reminder that such conditions have existed long before modern medicine. This finding suggests that osteoarthritis in ancient populations was more influenced by age and daily activities rather than genetic predisposition.

Homo neanderthalensis. Credit by Flickr

Throughout history, humans have been plagued by various diseases, many of which mirror conditions we see today. Unfortunately, the limited medical understanding of ancient times made coping with these ailments a significant challenge. For instance, a fossilized metatarsal, approximately 1.7 million years old and discovered in South Africa's Swartkrans Cave, shows signs of osteosarcoma, suggesting that pain and mobility issues affected early hominids. The specifics of whether the individual was an adult or child remain uncertain, as does whether this condition contributed to their demise. Nonetheless, such fossils indicate that cancer has impacted our lineage since the Paleolithic era, likely at rates comparable to those observed today.

The fossil in question, found at Moula-Guercy, a limestone site by the Rhône River in France, represents the distal end of a thumb phalanx that exhibits a pathology affecting grip strength between the thumb and index finger. Excavations at this renowned site began in 1975 and have revealed significant climatic phases corresponding to isotopic stages MIS 6–4. The site has also yielded Neanderthal remains dated to early MIS 5, around 120,000–130,000 years ago, highlighting the presence of pathologies like osteoarthritis among Pleistocene hominins.

Osteoarthritis involves the degeneration of joint tissues, affecting all components of the synovial joint, including bone, muscles, and ligaments. Notably, Neanderthals had relatively short legs, a trait linked to a higher prevalence of arthritis. This thumb phalanx is unique as the first documented case of osteoarthritis among Neanderthal remains, despite the condition's commonality within these populations.

The pathology observed likely affected the Neanderthal’s everyday life. The phalanx shows signs of eburnation—an overproduction of compact bone—on its distal epiphysis, along with an osteophyte on the palmar surface, confirming the presence of osteoarthritis. Factors contributing to this condition include age, excessive joint use, and other lifestyle variables, while obesity and vitamin C deficiency are ruled out as causes for this individual, given the hunter-gatherer lifestyle.

Observations of eburnation indicate that the osteoarthritis was likely due to joint overload or degeneration, conditions commonly associated with aging. This ailment was not genetically driven but may relate to the individual’s limb length. It is well-established that Neanderthals possessed advanced technical skills, making it challenging to pinpoint the exact activity that led to this specific case of osteoarthritis. However, the thumb-index pinch grip, crucial for various tasks such as flint knapping or butchering, could have played a significant role. During flint knapping, the dominant hand strikes the tool while the non-dominant hand stabilizes the core, potentially leading to the pathologies observed.

While other repetitive activities might also lead to osteoarthritis, identifying the specific cause in this case remains elusive. It is evident that the individual likely endured considerable pain as the distal end of the phalanx deteriorated, ultimately compromising grip strength. This condition would have severely impacted the functionality of the left thumb's distal joint, making it challenging for this Neanderthal to perform various tasks.

Chapter 2: Implications of Neanderthal Pathologies

This section will explore further implications and insights gleaned from the study of Neanderthal pathologies and their relevance to understanding human evolution.