Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age01:09

Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age

The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
Bones of the Lower Limb: Tibia and Fibula01:10

Bones of the Lower Limb: Tibia and Fibula

The tibia is the main weight-bearing bone of the lower leg. It is larger than the fibula with which it is paired. The tibia is also the second longest bone in the body and is located right below the skin. The proximal end of the tibia forms the medial and the lateral condyle, which articulates with the condyles of the femur to form the knee joint. Between the articulating surfaces is the irregular elevated area known as the intercondylar eminence that serves as the inferior attachment point for...
Bone Formation by Endochondral Ossification01:24

Bone Formation by Endochondral Ossification

Bone formation, or ossification, begins around the sixth to seventh week of embryonic development. Most bones develop from a cartilaginous template through the process of endochondral ossification. Cartilage formation begins when clusters of mesenchymal cells differentiate into chondrocytes. These chondrocytes proliferate rapidly and secrete an extracellular matrix that becomes encased in a membrane called the perichondrium. The resulting cartilage model provides a template that resembles the...
Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification01:29

Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification

Intramembranous ossification is one of the two processes involved in the development of bones within an embryo. The flat bones of the face, most of the cranial bones, and the clavicles are formed via this process. During intramembranous ossification, the bones develop directly from sheets of undifferentiated mesenchymal connective tissue.
The process begins when mesenchymal cells in the embryonic skeleton gather together and differentiate into osteogenic cells, which then develop into...
Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella01:16

Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella

The femur is the body's longest and strongest bone spanning the thigh region. Its head articulates with the acetabulum of the hip bone to form the hip joint. A minor indentation on the medial side of the femoral head, called the fovea capitis, serves as the site of attachment for the ligament of the head of the femur. This weak ligament spans the femur and acetabulum and supports the hip joint. The narrowed region below the head is the neck of the femur. The inclination angle between the neck...
Classification of Bones01:18

Classification of Bones

The bones of the human skeletal system are of varied shapes, sizes, and functions. They can be classified based on their shape and function into four major classes: long bones, short bones, flat bones, and irregular bones. Some classifications include a fifth type, the sesamoid bones, as a separate class, whereas others categorize them under short bones.
Long and Short Bones
The appendicular skeleton, particularly the upper and lower limbs, is primarily made of long and short bones. The long...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The Evolution of Nerve-Sparing Radical Prostatectomy: Mechanisms of Injury, Economic Impact, and the Potential Value of Intraoperative Nerve Visualization.

Journal of clinical medicine·2026
Same author

Genetic diversity of late Neanderthals in northwestern Europe.

Nature·2026
Same author

More harm than good? The UK National Screening Committee's latest review of prostate cancer screening.

BJU international·2026
Same author

Identification of functionally related adaptations in the trabecular network of the proximal femur and tibia of a bipedally trained Japanese macaque.

Anthropological science : journal of the Anthropological Society of Nippon = Jinruigaku zasshi·2026
Same author

Swartkrans <i>Paranthropus</i> and Sterkfontein <i>Australopithecus</i> from southern Africa had different locomotor repertoires.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

First multi-individual Neanderthal mitogenomes from north of the Carpathians.

Current biology : CB·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 8, 2026

Optimized Bone Sampling Protocols for the Retrieval of Ancient DNA from Archaeological Remains
06:18

Optimized Bone Sampling Protocols for the Retrieval of Ancient DNA from Archaeological Remains

Published on: November 30, 2021

Neandertals made the first specialized bone tools in Europe.

Marie Soressi1, Shannon P McPherron, Michel Lenoir

  • 1Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|August 14, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Neandertals used specialized bone tools, called lissoirs, before modern humans arrived in Europe. This discovery challenges previous beliefs about Neandertal capabilities and cultural exchange between Neandertals and modern humans.

Keywords:
Middle PaleolithicPaleolithic archaeologyhuman evolution

More Related Videos

Primer Extension Capture: Targeted Sequence Retrieval from Heavily Degraded DNA Sources
15:28

Primer Extension Capture: Targeted Sequence Retrieval from Heavily Degraded DNA Sources

Published on: September 3, 2009

Sampling and Pretreatment of Tooth Enamel Carbonate for Stable Carbon and Oxygen Isotope Analysis
07:57

Sampling and Pretreatment of Tooth Enamel Carbonate for Stable Carbon and Oxygen Isotope Analysis

Published on: August 15, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 8, 2026

Optimized Bone Sampling Protocols for the Retrieval of Ancient DNA from Archaeological Remains
06:18

Optimized Bone Sampling Protocols for the Retrieval of Ancient DNA from Archaeological Remains

Published on: November 30, 2021

Primer Extension Capture: Targeted Sequence Retrieval from Heavily Degraded DNA Sources
15:28

Primer Extension Capture: Targeted Sequence Retrieval from Heavily Degraded DNA Sources

Published on: September 3, 2009

Sampling and Pretreatment of Tooth Enamel Carbonate for Stable Carbon and Oxygen Isotope Analysis
07:57

Sampling and Pretreatment of Tooth Enamel Carbonate for Stable Carbon and Oxygen Isotope Analysis

Published on: August 15, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Paleoanthropology
  • Archaeology
  • European Prehistory

Background:

  • Neandertals and modern humans coexisted in Europe around 40,000 years ago.
  • Neandertals exhibited behaviors previously thought exclusive to modern humans, sparking debate on cultural origins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the origins of specialized bone tool (lissoir) use in Europe.
  • To determine whether Neandertals independently developed advanced behaviors or were influenced by modern humans.

Main Methods:

  • Excavation and analysis of Neandertal archaeological sites.
  • Microwear analysis of bone tools to determine function.

Main Results:

  • Identification of lissoir bone tools in a pre-replacement Neandertal context.
  • Microwear patterns indicate use for hide preparation, similar to modern applications.
  • These tools represent the oldest specialized bone tools found in Europe.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest Neandertals may have independently invented lissoir technology.
  • Alternatively, the tools indicate early cultural influence from modern humans on Neandertals.
  • The discovery could suggest cultural diffusion from Neandertals to modern humans, predating modern human use of similar tools in Europe.