Revealed: Face of 75,000-year-old female Neanderthal from cave

4 hours ago

A 75,000-year-old female Neanderthal's face was recreated from a flattened skull found in Shanidar Cave, Iraqi Kurdistan.
The skull was discovered in 2018 and reconstructed from hundreds of bone fragments by a team led by the University of Cambridge.
Shanidar Cave is known for Neanderthal burials, with discoveries dating back to 1960.
The documentary 'Secrets of the Neanderthals' on Netflix follows the excavation and research process.
Neanderthal skulls differ from humans with larger brow ridges, no chins, and prominent noses, but the recreated face suggests less stark differences in life.
The skull was crushed post-death, possibly by rockfall, and compacted over thousands of years.
Researchers used micro-CT scans and forensic techniques to reconstruct the skull, which was then 3D-printed for facial reconstruction.
Shanidar Z was identified as an older female, around mid-forties, based on tooth enamel proteins and wear.
The cave contains remains of at least ten Neanderthals, with Shanidar Z being part of a cluster buried near a large rock.
Evidence suggests Neanderthals may have had burial rituals and cared for their sick and injured.
Microscopic traces of charred food near the burial site indicate Neanderthals cooked and ate in the presence of their dead.
The findings challenge previous perceptions of Neanderthals as primitive, showing sophisticated behaviors.

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