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What evidence suggests that many Neanderthals were right-handed?

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Neanderthal Artist's rendering of Homo neanderthalensis, who ranged from western Europe to Central Asia for some 100,000 years before dying out approximately 30,000 years ago.

Evidence suggesting that many Neanderthals were right-handed is primarily derived from the analysis of their teeth.1

Anthropologists have observed heavy dental wear and specific striations on the front teeth of Neanderthal remains, which indicate that they frequently used their teeth as a "third hand" to hold items while processing them with tools. By examining the direction and pattern of these microscopic striations, researchers have concluded that Neanderthals were largely right-handed.1

This pattern of handedness appears to have developed early in life, as similar striations have been identified on the teeth of individuals as young as six to eight years old. Furthermore, this trait suggests a functional lateralization of the brain, a neurological characteristic that is considered fundamental to the development of complex language.12