Arsuaga, Juan LuisMartínez Mendizábal, IgnacioArnold, Lee J.Aranburu, ArantzaGracia Téllez, AnaSharp, Warren D.Quam, Rolf M.Falguères, ChristophePantoja Pérez, AnaBischoff, James L.Poza Rey, Eva MaríaParés, Josep M.Carretero, José MiguelDemuro, MartinaLorenzo Merino, CarlosSala Burgos, NohemiMartinón-Torres, MaríaGarcía García, NuriaAlcázar de Velasco, AlmudenaCuenca Bescós, GloriaGómez Olivencia, AsierMoreno, DaviniaPablos, AdriánShen, Chuan-ChouRodríguez, LauraOrtega Martínez, Ana IsabelGarcía González, RebecaBonmatí, AlejandroBermúdez de Castro, José MaríaCarbonell i Roura, Eudald2023-06-192023-06-192014-06-200036-807510.1126/science.1253958https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/34303Seventeen Middle Pleistocene crania from the Sima de los Huesos site (Atapuerca, Spain) are analyzed, including seven new specimens. This sample makes it possible to thoroughly characterize a Middle Pleistocene hominin paleodeme and to address hypotheses about the origin and evolution of the Neandertals. Using a variety of techniques, the hominin-bearing layer could be reassigned to a period around 430,000 years ago. The sample shows a consistent morphological pattern with derived Neandertal features present in the face and anterior vault, many of which are related to the masticatory apparatus. This suggests that facial modification was the first step in the evolution of the Neandertal lineage, pointing to a mosaic pattern of evolution, with different anatomical and functional modules evolving at different rates.engjournal articlehttps://science.sciencemag.org/content/344/6190https://cir.cenieh.es/handle/20.500.12136/321restricted access569.89NeandertalPleistocenePaleontología2416 Paleontología