We don’t know if it was a boy or a girl. But this ancient child, Neanderthal, made it when he was only two years old.
This short life, lived about 1,000 years ago, was found at a famous archaeological site in southwestern France, called La Ferraci. Remains of many Neanderthals have been found there, including the latest discovery, the baby, known simply as La Ferrasi 8.
When ancient fossils were first discovered – mostly in the early 20th century – archaeologists believed that the skeletons represented a deliberate burial, with Neanderthals resting their deceased relatives under the earth.
However, in contemporary archeology, doubts now revolve around the question of whether Neanderthals actually buried their bodies in this way, or whether this particular aspect of recreational sacraments is unique. Homo sapiens Custom
In part, these questions relate to archaeological techniques and connections to record recordings in the past, as the ancient methods used by archaeologists and ethnographers in the early 20th century (and even earlier) meant that we could always be perfect. No. Have faith in their findings.
With such a mystery in their minds, researchers and a team led by researchers at the Le Center National de la Richeri Scientific (CNRS) in France have now made a thorough assessment of the ancient fossils of La Ferrari 8, which were discovered between 1970 and 1973 and now for nearly 50 years. Housed in a museum.
“The discovery and reference to this skeleton is generally regarded as poorly documented, but in fact this deficiency is due to the lack of necessary processing of La Ferrari information and materials regarding the penalty excavation phase (1968–1973).” Researchers write in their new paper.
“Indeed, large amounts of data remained untapped prior to our current study.”
In the new work, the researchers reviewed the notebooks and field diaries used by the original excavation team, as well as analyzed the bones of the Fair Ferris 8. They also carried out new excavations and analyzes at the La Ferrari Cave Shelter where the remains of a child were found.
The results of their multi-disciplinary approach suggest that – despite the qualitative nature of previous research into the alleged burial of La Ferrari 8 – the old conclusions were correct: the child was buried.
The authors explain that “the combined anthropological, spatial, geological, tephonomic and biomolecular data analyzed here suggest that burial is the most reciprocal explanation for LF8.”
“Our results show that LF8 is an intruder in the aged (and archaeological sterilized) sedimentation layer. We propose that Neanderthals deliberately dug a hole in the sterile silt in which the LF8 child was placed.”
Reaching this conclusion, the team confirmed that the well-preserved bones were placed in their anatomical position, to rest unarmed, while the rest of the body had a high inclined line lined at the head, albeit at different angles (Neanderthal hands indicate composite elevation). ).
Next, there were no animal marks on them, which the team considers other possible signs for a prompt to bury. Especially when compared to the woven state of different animals found in close proximity.
“The absence of carnivorous marks, spatial clutter, fragments and low amounts of weather indicate that they were quickly covered by silt,” the researchers explain.
“We cannot find any natural (i.e. non-human) process that can explain the presence of the child and its associated elements within the sterilized layer that does not follow the geographical orientation of the stratum. In this case, we suggest that LF8 is the child’s The body was dumped in a pit dug in sterile mud. “
This is not the first study in recent times to claim new evidence that Neanderthals are burying their dead, and it probably won’t be the last.
“This is the time today’s newly-revised analytical standards were brought to bear on the various skeletal remains of La Ferrari 1 to 7, giving us an updated assessment of how they were interfered with,” says French T.
Then, perhaps, with all said and done, these very old souls will finally find some rest.
These findings are reported Scientific reports.
This article was originally published by Science Alert. Read the original article Here.
