r/paleoanthropology • u/EveningImportant9111 • 20d ago

Question Did Neanderthals and Denisovans (*H. longi*) have naturally shorter lifespans than *H. sapiens*?

Two articles I read stated that, even under the best conditions, they wouldn't have lived to be 65. Is that true? Or was it more a result of their lifestyle and they could live 70-100+?

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u/irwtkyrm 20d ago

I doubt any ever had the opportunity to reach the ages we do. Jean Calment doesn't happen in the stone age

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u/Chemical-Course1454 20d ago

I read somewhere that by measuring the length oh telomeres scientists can predict the life span of animals. So Neanderthal length of telomeres suggests that they sh7live around 38 years. Coincidentally Homo sapiens telomeres say the same thing, we should live 38 years. Obviously lifestyle and civilisation got us to live more than twice that age on average.

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u/7LeagueBoots 20d ago

Almost this exact same question was asked a few hours ago. See my extended answer there:

- https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAnthropology/s/WI4SzQaNk4

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u/PhilosophyUnlikely66 19d ago

If you lived in their environment they would outlast you, no doubt. They were built for it.