Researchers have reconstructed the face of Neanderthal woman who lived 75,000 years ago

A 75,000-year-old Neanderthal woman’s rebuilt face was revealed by a team of archaeologists in the UK, providing an amazing window into our ancestor’s appearance.

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‘Shanidar Z’ – The face of Neanderthal woman

Given the name “Shanidar Z” in honour of the Kurdish cave in Iraq where her skull was discovered in 2018, this find offers fresh perspectives on the anatomy and burial customs of Neanderthal people. 

According to reports, Shanidar Z’s face was assembled from the shattered skull remains, which were described as being “as soft as a well-dunked biscuit.” The bones needed to be carefully strengthened before researchers could begin the reconstruction process. Once stabilised, expert paleoartists used a 3D model to recreate the face of Neanderthal woman. 

The find is considered the best-preserved Neanderthal discovery of this century. Shanidar Z’s skull was found flattened, possibly due to a rock fall shortly after her death. Despite these challenges, the skull and upper body were unearthed and assembled, providing valuable information for further study. 

Professor Graeme Barker of the University of Cambridge, who led the excavations, expressed surprise at finding more Neanderthals at the site. Shanidar Z’s remains are part of a cluster of Neanderthal burials in the cave, with the fifth body recently identified.

This groundbreaking find deepens our understanding of Neanderthal culture and their enigmatic disappearance around 40,000 years ago.