Neanderthals Portrayed In The Media

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There are many movies in popular media that misrepresent Neanderthals. In the movie “Quest For Fire,” there are several aspects of Neanderthals that are accurately and inaccurately portrayed. These aspects include physical dimensions of the body, tool use, the capability of language, and, of course, the use of fire.
Regarding the physical makeup of Neanderthals, there are some correct representations that Jean-Jacques Annaud tried to replicate (Scheib, 1990). But certain aspects of the Neanderthals physicality could not be fully realized, due to bone structures. In the movie, the Neanderthals have markedly developed brow ridges that accurately depict the shape of true Neanderthals (NOVA, 2002). However, there are certain physiological aspects that could not be properly represented. From discovered fossils, it has been shown that Neanderthals have longer, more slender pubic bones, specifically the crest of the pubis, than that of the modern human (Spilman, 2003). Since the actors naturally have the physical make up of today’s humans, the difference could not be accurately portrayed.
Other aspects of the physicality of the Neanderthals that could not be represented precisely are the adaptations that made Neanderthals well fitted for terrestrial life. They had massive bones, and strong attachments to the joints. The hip joint was surrounded by powerful muscles and strong supportive ligaments that aided in mobility. The muscles of the thigh had different points of insertion on the femur than that of modern humans (Spilman, 2003). Unfortunately, these Neanderthal-specific features could not be depicted, because of the difficulty surrounding that kind of physical manipulation.
There are still more physical aspects that are misrepresented in “Quest For Fire.” These include cranial features that could not be transformed. In Neanderthals, the skull was fairly large and the walls of the cranium were thick. In a few of the ch...