The "primitive man of Steinheim" is a single find. The designation "Steinheim skull" can be seen as a reference to the location of the fossil, but in no way identifies with a certain taxon. The skull shows characteristics of both "H. heidelbergensis" and Neanderthals. It is therefore classified by most paleoanthropologists to "H. heidelbergensis" and is believed to be a transitional form of "H. heidelbergensis" to Neanderthals. This has sometimes been referred to as "pre-Neanderthal.” The inner ear of the fossil has a feature in which Neanderthals and "H. sapiens" differ. The location of the semicircular canals of the inner ear in the temporal bone of the skull base is similar to the situation in Neanderthals, while the semicircular canals of the older "H. erectus," as with "H. sapiens", are closer.