La Brea Woman facts for kids
La Brea Woman is the name given to the remains of a young woman found in the famous La Brea Tar Pits. These tar pits are located in Los Angeles, California. Her partial skeleton was first discovered in 1914.
Scientists believe she was about 18 to 25 years old when she died. Her remains are very old, dating back about 10,220 to 10,250 years ago. She is the only human ever found in the La Brea Tar Pits.
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Studying La Brea Woman's Remains
Researchers have learned many things about La Brea Woman. They estimate she was about 4 feet, 8 to 10 inches tall (about 1.5 meters). By looking at her teeth, scientists think she ate a diet that included stone-ground foods.
Her skull showed a fracture, which means it was broken. Experts believe this injury might have been caused by a blow to her head. This injury could have been the reason she died.
La Brea Woman in the Museum
The remains found included her skull, jaw, and other parts of her skeleton. These were found in a specific area of the tar pits called Pit 10.
For a time, her remains were shown at the George C. Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits. There was also a life-sized model of what she might have looked like. However, this exhibit was removed around 2004.
The museum's curator, John M. Harris, was concerned about displaying human remains. He worried it might upset Native Americans. He also thought it could lead to requests for the remains to be returned to Native American groups. Some researchers believe her skull shape suggests she was part of the Chumash people. However, other experts say there isn't enough proof to be sure about her ethnic background.
In 2009, an artist named Melissa R. Cooper created a new face for La Brea Woman. This was done using her skull. These new images caused some discussion about whether they should be displayed. People also wondered why the museum had kept La Brea Woman's remains out of public view.
The Mystery of the Dog Bones
When La Brea Woman's bones were found, some dog bones were found nearby. At first, people thought the dog had been buried with her on purpose. This would have meant it was a special ceremony.
However, in 2016, scientists discovered something new. The dog bones were much younger, only about 3,000 years old. This new information showed that the dog could not have been buried with La Brea Woman. This disproved the idea of a ceremonial burial.
See also
In Spanish: Mujer de La Brea para niños
