Neanderthals evolved to chew, evidence from a collection of ancient skulls dating back 400,000 years suggests.

The 17 skulls, many of which are complete, were found at a cave site known as Sima de los Huesos (Pit of the Bones) at Atapuerca in northern Spain.

Analysis of the bones has helped scientists to understand how Neanderthals evolved over time.

They discovered Neanderthal-like features in the face and teeth, while other parts of the skulls including the brain case resembled those of more primitive human ancestors.

Critically, many of the Neanderthal traits were related to chewing, indicating that this was important.

Lead scientist Juan-Luis Arsuaga, from the Complutense University of Madrid, said: “It seems these modifications had to do with an intensive use of the frontal teeth. The incisors show a great deal of wear, as if they had been used as a ‘third hand’, typical of Neanderthals.”

Ancestors of Neanderthals migrated out of Africa long before those of our own human species, Homo sapiens.

Early modern humans and Neanderthals lived side by side in Europe for thousands of years and are thought to have interbred.

Eventually, the Neanderthals disappeared around 30,000 years ago. They may have been out-competed by modern humans, or absorbed into their gene pool.

Details of the research are published in the latest edition of the journal Science.

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