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Face of Neanderthal woman revealed
Context:
Recently, scientists have created a 3D model based on the fragmented, crushed remains found during the excavation of a Neanderthal woman’s skull.
More on News:
- The skull used for creating this model was discovered in Shanidar Cave, located in Iraqi Kurdistan.
- It is famous because of evidence of burial practices.
- This cave holds significant historical importance, as it yielded the remains of at least 10 Neanderthal individuals, both male and female, along with children during the 1950s.
- In 2015, a British team unearthed the Shanidar Z skeleton, comprising the spine, shoulders, arms, and the majority of the upper body.
- The Neanderthals vanished 40,000 years ago.
Shanidar Z Skull:
- The skull was found to be extremely flat and fragmented, described as “as flat as a pizza”.
- While the pelvic bones were not recovered, analysis of the tooth enamel proteins indicated the skeleton belonged to a female who died in her mid-40s.
- The careful placement of the Neanderthal bodies in the cave suggests they maintained traditions around how their dead were treated.
Who were the Neanderthals?
- Neanderthals were a distinct species known as Homo neanderthalensis, separate from modern humans.
- They Neanderthals have a long evolutionary history, with the earliest known fossils dating back around 430,000 years.
- They coexisted with early modern humans, and evidence indicates intimate encounters, as some modern humans have inherited approximately 2% Neanderthal DNA.
- The peak of Neanderthal existence was between approximately 130,000 and 40,000 years ago.
- They displayed adaptability, residing in various environments ranging from cold steppe regions in England and Siberia to warm temperate woodlands in Spain and Italy