This object is part of the Education and Outreach collection, some of which are in the Q?rius science education center and available to see.
Geologic Age:
Pleistocene
Notes:
Brown plastic cast cranium of La Ferrassie 1, from the species Homo neanderthalensis. One of the most important individuals found at La Ferrassie is La Ferrassie 1, the skeleton of an adult male. His skull, the largest and most complete Neanderthal skull ever found (in 1909), has many of the typical Neanderthal traits such as the low, sloping forehead and large nasal opening. His teeth, which are all preserved, are heavily worn, indicating he was older at the time of his death. His front incisors show a slanted wear that does not occur from chewing; one hypothesis to explain this odd wear on his teeth is that he habitually held something in place between his front teeth, such as a hide, that he then scraped with a tool. Although this hypothesis has been debated, the use of the teeth as tools may represent a remarkable Neanderthal behavioral adaptation. Black paint represents missing pieces. La Ferrassie 1 is between 70,000 and 50,000 years old.