Neanderthal Remains Discovered in Italy
ROME, ITALY—
The Guardianreports that the remains of nine Neanderthals, including seven adult males, a female, and a child, have been discovered in Grotta Guattari, a cave near central Italy’s western coastline that was sealed in prehistory by a collapse. One of the sets of remains has been dated to between 90,000 and 100,000 years old, while the rest have been dated to between 50,000 and 68,000 years old. Mario Rolfo of Tor Vergata University said most of them had been killed by hyenas and eaten in their den. “Neanderthals were prey for these animals,” he explained. “Hyenas hunted them, especially the most vulnerable, like sick or elderly individuals.” The bones of rhinoceroses, giant deer, horses, and hyenas were also recovered from the cave. Rolfo added that analysis of dental tartar indicates the Neanderthals ate a varied diet based on cereals. DNA studies of the well-preserved remains are being planned. For more on Neanderthal finds from Italian caves, go to "Around the World: Italy."
Reuters Reuters
10 May, 2021, 9:39 am
Fossilised remains, supposed to belong to Neanderthal men, are seen at a prehistoric site in Guattari cave in San Felice Circeo, Italy, 2021. Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism/ Handout via REUTERS
MILAN (Reuters) – Archaeologists discovered the remains of nine Neanderthals at a prehistoric site near Rome, Italy’s Culture ministry said on Saturday.
Eight of the remains are dated to between 50,000 and 68,000 years ago, while one, the oldest, is dated to between 90,000 and 100,000 years ago, the ministry said in a statement.
The find occurred in Grotta Guattari, prehistoric caves discovered more than 80 years ago, located around 100 metres from the coast of Tyrrhenian Sea in San Felice Circeo, near Latina, in the Lazio region.
Wanted in Rome
10 May, 2021
Remains of nine Neanderthals unearthed at prehistoric cave at San Felice Circeo.
Archaeologists in Italy have discovered the fossilised remains of nine Neanderthals in a prehistoric cave south of Rome, the Italian culture ministry announced over the weekend.
It is believed that the Neanderthals may have been hunted by hyenas and dragged back to animals' den in the Grotta Guattari in the coastal town San Felice Circeo, some 90 km south of Rome.
The fossilised bones include skullcaps, teeth and broken jawbones, in a discovery described by culture minister Dario Franceschini as "extraordinary."
Image courtesy Ufficio Stampa e Comunicazione MiC. Photo by Emanuele Antonio Minerva.
Remains of nine Neanderthals discovered near Rome2021|01:02
Archeologists have discovered the remains of nine Neanderthals at a prehistoric site near Rome, Italy's culture ministry said on Saturday. Eight of the remains are dated to between 50,000 and 68,000 years ago, the ministry said in a statement. But the oldest is from much earlier - between 90,000 and 100,000 years ago. Neanderthals, the closest ancient relatives of humans, died out about 40,000 years ago. It is unclear what killed them off, though theories include an inability to adapt to climate change and increased competition from modern humans. The find occurred in Grotta Guattari, prehistoric caves that were discovered more than 80 years ago in a town around 50 miles south of the Italian capital. Taking into account previous discoveries, there are 11 individuals at the site. Animal remains have also been found, including aurochs - a large, extinct bovine.
Remains of nine Neanderthal men up to 100,000 years old found in cave near Rome
Archaeologists have uncovered the fossilised remains of nine Neanderthals dating back tens of thousands of years in the Grotta Guattari prehistoric caves in Italy's Lazio region
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Archaeologists discover remains of Neanderthal in Rome
The discoveries were made near the Tyrrhenian Sea’s coast at the Guattari Cave.
Skulls, skull fragments, two teeth, and a bone fragment are among the remains found.
Archaeologists also discovered animal bones, including those of an aurochs, an extinct bovine.
The oldest remains date from 100,000 to 90,000 years ago, while the other eight Neanderthals are thought to have lived between 50,000 and 68,000 years ago, according to the Culture Ministry.
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‘They are all adults, with the exception of one who may have been in his early teens,’ Francesco Di Mario, the head of the Grotta Guattari excavation said.
162 Fossilised remains, supposed to belong to Neanderthal men, are seen at a prehistoric site in Guattari cave in San Felice Circeo. Reuters Photo
Milan, May 8
Archaeologists discovered the remains of nine Neanderthals at a prehistoric site near Rome, Italy's Culture ministry said on Saturday.
Eight of the remains are dated to between 50,000 and 68,000 years ago, while one, the oldest, is dated to between 90,000 and 100,000 years ago, the ministry said in a statement.
The find occurred in Grotta Guattari, prehistoric caves discovered more than 80 years ago, located around 100 metres from the coast of Tyrrhenian Sea in San Felice Circeo, near Latina, in the Lazio region.
The remains of nine Neanderthals have been uncovered at a prehistoric site in Italy's Lazio region. The oldest could possibly be between 90,000 and 100,000 years old.
Archaeologists discovered the remains of nine Neanderthals at a prehistoric site near Rome, Italy's culture ministry said on Saturday.Eight of the remains are dated to between 50,000 and 68,000 years ago, while one, the oldest, is dated to between 90,000 and 100,000 years ago, the ministry said in a statement.The find occurred in Grotta Guattari, prehistoric...