# Neanderthals had arthritis?! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 17, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neanderthals-had-arthritis/208117 "2003-10-17T23:45:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![the\_terminator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/848f3c/32.png) [@the\_terminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_terminator)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neanderthals-had-arthritis/208117/1 "2003-10-17T23:45:46Z")
While browsing the [www.talkorigins.org](http://www.talkorigins.org) archives, I found a Jack Chick poster ([http://www.chick.com/catalog/posters/evolutionposter.jpg](http://www.chick.com/catalog/posters/evolutionposter.jpg)). On this it claimed that “the famous neanderthal skeleton found in France over 50 years ago is that of an old man who sufferered from arthritis.” :eek: Surely there has been other Neanderthal remains found other that particular skeleton. So,what’s the Straight Dope on this Neanderthal’s arthritis? Was this proven to be fake, or is it just typical dogma of any Jack Chick publication? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2003, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neanderthals-had-arthritis/208117/2 "2003-10-17T23:58:14Z")
I’m not sure what your point is. People get arthritis, so do the great apes, dogs, cats, and elephants. Arthritis has been found in neanderthal skeletons ever since they’ve been finding neanderthal skeletons. ---
**Author:** ![the\_terminator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/848f3c/32.png) [@the\_terminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_terminator)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neanderthals-had-arthritis/208117/3 "2003-10-18T00:00:30Z")
Okay let me rephrase my question: Was the skeleton mentioned in the poster a Neanderthal or just a human with arthritis? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neanderthals-had-arthritis/208117/4 "2003-10-18T00:03:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by the terminator \* > \*\*Okay let me rephrase my question: Was the skeleton mentioned in the poster a Neanderthal or just a human with arthritis? \*\* It was a Neanderthal with arthritis. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neanderthals-had-arthritis/208117/5 "2003-10-18T00:03:29Z")
It is just part of a desperate attempt to explain away evidence (skeletons that are similar to those of modern humans, but not exactly so) that makes creationists uncomfortable; another one I’ve heard is that Neanderthals were just ordinary humans with rickets. It’s a ridiculous assertion and (as usual) one that is based on a cursory glance at the evidence and the sincere hope that the audience won’t probe for themselves, but just swallow it whole. [http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/a\_neands.html](http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/a_neands.html) ---
**Author:** ![markci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@markci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markci)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neanderthals-had-arthritis/208117/6 "2003-10-18T00:34:13Z")
I don’t know if it was a man with arthritis or a neanderthal with arthritis or what. But I do know one thing: spending your time on the internet talking with dummies who think the world is 6000 years old is an incredible waste of time.