What did Neanderthals sound like?

(Dan Tri) - Neanderthals, our extinct relatives, have long been stereotyped as rude, growling prehistoric creatures. However, recent research has overturned that notion.

Many of us have probably seen the viral clip of a Neanderthal “high-pitched voice” from a hypothetical show called Neanderthal: The Rebirth .

And to recreate this sound, scientists used their 3D model of the vocal tract, combined with anatomical knowledge such as a deep ribcage, heavy skull and large nasal cavity.

The result is a strange, high-pitched, nasal scream, a far cry from the growl we usually imagine. However, this is just one of many scientific explanations for the voice of this ancient human.

By analyzing anatomy, cognition and genetics, scientists believe that Neanderthals were capable of complex language, with speech that may have been very similar to that of modern humans, although there were some subtle differences (Photo: Denis).

Neural hardware and listening

The notion that Neanderthals were fierce, bushy-browed prehistoric humans is actually outdated. Modern archaeological evidence shows that, like us, Neanderthals were highly intelligent, culturally complex, and emotionally intelligent creatures.

Neanderthals had similar cognitive abilities to modern humans, and their brains were similar or even larger than ours, suggesting they had the “neural hardware” needed to process complex language.

A 2021 study also added support to this hypothesis. By creating digital copies of the bones in Neanderthal skulls, anthropologists discovered that they were capable of hearing frequencies between 4-5 kHz, very similar to the abilities of modern Homo sapiens .

The researchers concluded that this implies Neanderthals had a communication system as complex and efficient as our own, and that their ears were “tuned” to perceive these frequencies.

Regardless of what Neanderthals sounded like, their voices were certainly filled with meaning, emotion, and connection (Photo: ZME).

Voice and language structure

Other scholars, using a multidisciplinary approach that combines anatomy, genetics, cognition, culture, and environment, have come to the same conclusion. Far from the gruff growls, Neanderthals spoke very much like us. However, some linguists believe there were subtle differences.

In a paper that has not yet been peer-reviewed, linguist Antonio Benítez-Burraco argues: "The Neanderthal language was almost certainly quite similar to our own, but appears to have been less complex structurally and less flexible functionally." He also speculates that their language may have had simpler syntax, fewer word classes, and less distinctive sounds.

While we can't know exactly when humans began using complex language, it's clear that Neanderthals were not the mute shadow of humanity.

Whether their conversations were expressed in a higher pitch or simpler grammar than ours, their voices were almost certainly filled with rich meaning, emotion, and connection.

These discoveries have contributed to a complete change in the way we view Neanderthals, from rude creatures to active creators of a complex social and cultural world .

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/nguoi-neanderthal-co-giong-noi-nhu-the-nao-20250926013716695.htm