A new analysis of Neanderthal fossils suggests that their feet functioned differently from ours, shaped by heavy bodies, long hours on uneven terrain and, possibly, a different heritage from earlier human relatives. The heel and ankle joints of Neanderthals suggest that they typically walked with a flatter, inward-turned foot. Image credit: Holger Neumann / Neanderthal Museum. “The human foot is one of the anatomical structures that best demonstrates our complex evolutionary history, and among the bones that compose it, the heel plays a crucial role: it is the first structure that touches the ground when walking, cushioning the impact and transmitting forces to push us forward,” said Professor Maria Giovanna Belcastro, researcher at the University of Bologna. “3D analysis of the fossil heels of our ancient cousins, the Neanderthals, has allowed us to highlight both an extraordinary biomechanical adaptation to withstand heavy loads and rugged terrain, and the impact of modern life and footwear on our feet.” For the study, the researchers used 3D scans of seven Neanderthal heel bones, or calcanei, and 64 Homo sapiens. The Neanderthal sample included specimens from La Ferrassie, La Chapelle, Regourdou, El Sidrón and Spy. The Homo sapiens sample ranged from Ice Age hunter-gatherers to 19th- and 20th-century residents of Bologna. Using a technique called geometric morphometry, which captures the shape of a bone with hundreds of digital points, the scientists found that the heel bones of Neanderthals were consistently different from those of all modern human groups. Compared to Homo sapiens, the Neanderthal calcaneus was shorter from front to back, wider from side to side, and taller from top to bottom. The authors interpret it as a stronger bone, suitable for carrying heavy loads and walking long distances. The overall size of the Neanderthals’ heel bones was within the range of modern humans, so the distinction lies in the shape. “The robustness of the heel reflects the general structure of the Neanderthal body, which was characterized by notable muscle and bone mass and an extremely intense level of physical activity,” said Professor Belcastro. “These physical characteristics indicate an adaptation intended to promote greater load capacity in the rear of the foot and high mobility on uneven terrain.” Early Middle Eastern Homo sapiens, dating from approximately 120,000 to 90,000 years ago, and later hunter-gatherers showed traits similar to the Neanderthal pattern, although less pronounced. It is believed that these groups were very mobile and probably walked barefoot or wearing soft footwear. The most sedentary group, the Bologna group, whose members usually wore heavy shoes and boots, had thinner heel bones. “The morphology of our skeleton is not only the product of a strict genetic program, but also a consequence of physical stimuli and our daily living habits,” said Professor Belcastro. “The results of this study therefore offer a fundamental contribution to better understanding how our ancestors moved in their natural environment and open fascinating perspectives for the dialogue between evolutionary anthropology and clinical orthopedics.” The study was published in the October 2026 issue of the Journal of Human Evolution. _____ Rita Sorrentino et al. 2026. Neanderthal heel: How uniquely the external shape of the Neanderthal calcaneus differs from that of modern humans. Journal of Human Evolution 219: 103887; doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2026.103887