Neanderthal 1 facts for kids
Neanderthal 1 is the special name given to the very first fossil that scientists clearly identified as belonging to a Neanderthal. Neanderthals were an ancient type of human, known scientifically as Homo neanderthalensis. Sometimes, this important fossil is also called Feldhofer 1, but that name is not used as often.
Even though it was the first one clearly identified, it wasn't the very first Neanderthal fossil ever found. Before this discovery, other bones had been found. However, people didn't fully understand their importance or what they represented until Neanderthal 1 was studied.
Contents
What Bones Were Found?
The Neanderthal 1 fossil includes several important parts of the skeleton. It has a piece of the skull, which is the bone that protects the brain. It also includes a fragment from the left temporal bone, which is on the side of the head.
Other Body Parts
Scientists also found parts of the upper body. These include a piece of the right scapula, also known as the shoulder blade. There's also the right clavicle, or collarbone. Both humeri were found; these are the main bones in the upper arms.
The fossil also contains bones from the lower arms. These are one radius and both ulnae. Both of these bones are found in your forearm. Five ribs were also discovered, which are part of the rib cage.
Finally, parts of the lower body were found. These include an almost complete half of the pelvis, which is your hip bone. Both femurs were also present. These are the long, strong bones in your upper legs.
How Old Was Neanderthal 1?
In 1999, scientists used a special method called radiocarbon dating to figure out the age of the bones. This method measures how much carbon-14 is left in a sample. They found that the bones were about 39,900 years old. This means that Neanderthal 1 lived during the time of some of the very last Neanderthal populations in Europe.
Other Neanderthal Discoveries
In the 1990s and 2000s, more Neanderthal bones were found close to where Neanderthal 1 was discovered. These new finds were named Neanderthal 2 and Neanderthal 3. Neanderthal 2 was about the same age as Neanderthal 1. However, its bones showed it had a lighter build, meaning it was less muscular. Neanderthal 3 was likely a teenager when they died.
Neanderthal 1 was a male. Based on the study of his bones, scientists believe he was between 40 and 42 years old when he died.
Images for kids
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Type specimen, Neanderthal 1
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Location of Neander valley, Germany
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Kleine Feldhofer Grotte (cross-section); from: Charles Lyell (1863): The Geological Evidences of the Antiquity of Man.
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Johann Carl Fuhlrott
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Hermann Schaaffhausen
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Fossil finds of 1829 Engis 2
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Thomas Henry Huxley, Evidence as to Man's Place in Nature, London, 1863
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Charles Lyell
See also
In Spanish: Neandertal 1 para niños
