A reconstructed model of a Neanderthal woman has been unveiled by scientists in a new documentary, Secrets of the Neanderthals. Based on a skull found in Shanidar Cave in Iraqi Kurdistan, the five-year research project reinforces beliefs that Neanderthals were a separate species to humans, but were in many respects like us. The skull was discovered in the 1950s, among at least 10 other remains, but after the British were invited to excavate again in 2015, a new skeleton, identified as Shanidar Z, was found. Despite being flattened and shattered, a palaeoartist created a 3D model of the woman.
As beautiful as the finished sculpture appears, it is the original skull that is of significant value and has enabled the team of researchers to determine that the remains belonged to a female. The discovery was made by looking for specific proteins in tooth enamel relating to female genetics. The lack of pelvic bones meant that this determination could not be confirmed. However, the size of the skeleton and the state of her teeth helped determine that she was aged in her mid-40s when she died, most likely from infections and gum disease, rather than a natural end of life.
The reconstruction project is complex and began with the stabilisation of the fragile fragments before beginning the jigsaw-like process of piecing them together. The rebuilt skull was then surface scanned before being 3D printed. Finally, Adrie and Alfons Kennis, Dutch artists famed for creating authentic models of ancient peoples from bones and fossils, were used to create the finished sculpture. Dr Emma Pomeroy, one of the project’s palaeoanthropologists, commented that she “can help us connect with who they were”.
Shanidar Cave is arguably the most famous of the prehistoric sites in the Kurdish region and has played a key role in shaping our knowledge about the Neanderthals. The cave contains rock shelters where artefacts, remains of animals and humans have been found. Diverse lines of evidence such as bone fractures and evidence of healed fractures have been used to better understand the medical practices and social dynamics of the population. This diverse range of information has helped to change views of the Neanderthals, showing that they were anything but primitive
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