Back in 1960 , archaeologist Ralph Solecki unearth adeeply factious Neanderthalburial site at the Shanidar Cave in the Kurdistan Region . Amongst a circle of skeletal stiff , find curled up in the fetal stance , was give away the presence of plant pollen seemingly scattered across the tomb . Solecki claimed the Neanderthal had been bury on a bed of colorful heyday and branch , betoken funerary rite and suggest our hominin cousin wereemotionally sensible individualswith clear cognitive abilities , not the heavy - browed dopes they were portray as at the time . However , this theory was not without its critics .
A fresh project has returned to the Shanidar Cave and unearthed one of the most everlasting articulated oafish frame found in decades . Not only could this uncovering exuviate spark on the lifespan and doings of Neanderthals , but it could also help to settle the heatedly debated “ bloom burying ” vitrine .
“ This find is incredibly exciting for a turn of reasons . It ’s rare that such sodding , vocalise – with bones in right anatomic connection – Neanderthal skeletal remains are found . This is the first to our knowledge in 25 years , ” Dr Emma Pomeroy , lead study author from the University of Cambridge ’s Department of Archeology , tell IFLScience .
report in the journalAntiquity , early analytic thinking suggest the Neanderthal died around 70,000 years ago , but it ’s not yet potential to state if they were male or female . give the quality of the gaunt cadaver , the researchers hope it could leave a riches of information aboutHomo neanderthalensis . For example , read the chemic theme of its bones and teeth could discover insights into theirdiet and geographic origins .
It also pose the possible action of obtaining ancient DNA from a south - west Asian Neanderthal for the first meter , a feat that has proved hard due to warmer climate not keep genetic material very well .
Most exciting of all , this newly unearthed Neanderthal will provide much - needed Apocalypse into the funerary practices ofH. neanderthalensis . For starter motor , the new skeleton was discovered in the same belittled cave as at least four other neandertal someone recovered in the 1960s , including the infamous “ bloom burial ” Neanderthal . This suggest the chemical group was forget in an organized way , like aNeanderthal graveyard .
But was this part of a advanced ritualistic observance , mature with signification , like a human funeral ? Or was it plainly done out of hard-nosed concern , perhaps hiding the bodies from scavengers ?
A preliminary depth psychology of the new Neanderthal ’s off-white also contains evidence of pollen . While it ’s still too former to jump to any substantial conclusions from this , it could eventually be used to resolve the debate around whether the “ efflorescence sepulture ” was a coincidence or a conscious effort to memorialize destruction , just like modern mankind .
“ entombment of the drained has long been considered a hallmark of advanced human behavior , suggestingcompassion for group member , care and mourn for the bushed , and even perhaps spirituality and ideas about what befall after death , ” explain Dr Pomeroy .
“ Our initial body of work on the soil micromorphology has shown mineralized plant fabric near to the bones of the new Neanderthal , and some evidence of pollen , which is highly relevant to the flower inhumation debate , ” Pomeroy proceed . " More work to identify pollen and other flora rest in ground samples take aim from precisely record placement … will help us to show whether the plant remains are singular to the sediments besiege the bones , discover the plants they come from , and exclude other explanation such as mod contamination or rodent activities . "
