Have you ever wondered what an ancient human relative looked like? Scientists have revealed the face of a Neanderthal woman who walked the Earth 75,000 years ago. How did they bring her features to life after so long?
The remarkable 3D model reveals this elderly female from a vast age ago, offering an intimate glimpse into our long-extinct human relatives. Key details include:
- Scientists pieced together a crushed Neanderthal skull found in an Iraqi cave
- Using the fragments, they created a 3D model showing the face of the ancient woman
- She likely lived to around 45 years old and had very worn teeth
- The cave may have been used as a burial site by Neanderthal groups over centuries
A Painstaking Reconstruction
“It’s like the ultimate 3D jigsaw puzzle,” saidย Rebecca Morelle, a BBC science editor.
The Neanderthal skull consisted of over 100 crushed bone fragments found in Shanidar Cave in Iraqi Kurdistan. Researchers carefully pieced the shards together for nearly a year to rebuild the skull.
“She’s been called Shanidar Z,” Morelle explained. Her Neanderthal identity showed through features like the prominent brow ridge above the eyes and the wide nasal shape.
An Ancient Elderly Woman
Detailed analysis of the skull revealed Shanidar Z was likely in her mid-40s when she died – somewhat elderly for that era. Her severely worn teeth and signs of gum disease suggested she struggled to chew food effectively towards the end of her life.
“By the time the teeth are getting this worn down, her chewing is not as effective…you’re actually getting to the natural end of life,” Morelle described simply.
A Sacred Burial Ground?
The cave where Shanidar Z’s remains were uncovered seems to have served as a special site. At least 10 Neanderthal skeletons, carefully laid out over hundreds of years, have been found there since the 1950s.
“They must have cared for each other,” Morelle said. “They were looking after other members of the group, and that care went on after they died.”
Artifacts like stone tools and fire pits reveal more about how the ancient Neanderthals lived, crafted implements, cooked food, and socialized together – “more and more like us,” according to Morelle.
What could this latest face from the past still teach us about our long-extinct human relatives? Only further research can uncover those ancient stories.
Photo credit; Screenshot taken from NBC News
