Face of 75,000-year-old Neanderthal woman revealed | BBC News

Summary

Archaeologists have reconstructed the 75,000-year-old skull of a Neanderthal woman named Shanidar Zed, discovered in a cave in Iraq's Kurdistan region. Made from over 100 fragments, the skull offers a glimpse into Neanderthal life and burial traditions, suggesting care for their dead. Detailed analysis of the skull indicates dental issues and poor health toward the end of her life. This find adds to growing evidence that Neanderthals used tools, built fires, and socialized, making them more similar to modern humans than previously thought.

Takeaways

• 🧠 A 75,000-year-old Neanderthal skull made of over 100 fragments has been reconstructed into a 3D model.
• ⛰️ The skull was discovered in a cave in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, which is believed to be a Neanderthal burial site.
• 👤 The skull, named Shanidar Zed, belonged to a female Neanderthal who lived around 75,000 years ago.
• 👁️ Key Neanderthal features include a prominent brow ridge and a wide nose, identified through the skull's structure.
• 🦷 Analysis of her teeth shows they were heavily worn down, indicating she was likely in her mid-40s and nearing the end of her life.
• 🧩 Reassembling the crushed skull, which was flattened to 2 cm thick, was a complex, year-long process involving fragile bone fragments.
• 🛠️ Neanderthal remains found in the cave suggest the species used tools, built fires, and may have engaged in basic cooking.
• 👥 Archaeologists believe Neanderthals practiced care for their dead, returning to the same site for burials over hundreds of years.
• 🕯️ The discoveries from the cave have transformed modern understanding of Neanderthals, showing they had more similarities to humans than previously thought.
• 🔥 Evidence from the site also suggests early forms of socializing, as Neanderthals likely gathered around fires to prepare and cook food.

Q & A

Who is the main subject of the 3D reconstruction discussed in the transcript?

The subject is a 75,000-year-old Neanderthal female, named Shanidar Zed, whose skull was found in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

What evidence suggests Shanidar Zed was a Neanderthal?

The features of the skull, such as the large brow ridge and the wide shape of the nose, are typical of Neanderthals.

What condition was the skull in when it was discovered?

The skull was found completely flattened into a 2 cm thick layer and made up of more than 100 fragments of fragile bone.

How long did it take to reconstruct Shanidar Zed’s skull?

It took about a year to painstakingly piece together the skull, which was described as being like an 'ultimate 3D jigsaw puzzle.'

Where was the skeleton of Shanidar Zed discovered?

The skeleton was discovered in a cave in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, which archaeologists believe may have been a burial site for Neanderthals.

What evidence suggests that the site where Shanidar Zed was found may have been a burial site?

Archaeologists have unearthed remains of at least 10 Neanderthal individuals, suggesting that different groups of Neanderthals brought their dead there over many years and carefully placed them in the cave.

What health issues did Shanidar Zed likely experience?

Shanidar Zed likely had poor dental health, including worn teeth, gum disease, and possible infections, which would have made eating difficult by the end of her life.

What does the discovery in the cave reveal about Neanderthals' social behavior?

The discovery suggests that Neanderthals cared for their dead, maintained burial traditions, used tools, built fires, and cooked food together, indicating they had socializing habits similar to modern humans.

How long ago did Neanderthals, like Shanidar Zed, disappear?

Neanderthals disappeared about 40,000 years ago, while modern humans thrived during that time.

What is significant about the archaeological discoveries in the Kurdistan cave?

The cave has transformed our understanding of Neanderthals, showing that they were more similar to modern humans than previously thought, with evidence of tool use, cooking, and social traditions.