Tautavel man facts for kids
Tautavel Man is the name given to ancient human fossils found in a cave in France. These early humans lived a very long time ago, between 300,000 and 450,000 years ago. The fossils were discovered in a place called the Caune de l'Arago cave, near a town called Tautavel in France.
Scientists found the first fossils in 1971. Since then, they have found more than 80 pieces of bones. These bones help us learn about what Tautavel Man was like.
Contents
What Tautavel Man Looked Like
The most famous fossil is a skull. It belonged to a man who was in his twenties. He was about 1.65 meters (about 5 feet 5 inches) tall. He weighed around 45 to 55 kilograms (about 100 to 120 pounds).
Other bones found include two lower jawbones, called mandibles. One belonged to a woman in her fifties. The other belonged to a man who was about 20 to 25 years old.
Their Daily Life
Scientists believe that Tautavel Man did not know how to use fire yet. This means they couldn't cook their food or stay warm easily.
They also think that these early humans might have eaten meat from other humans. Or, they might have mostly found dead animals to eat. This is called scavenging. It means they looked for food that was already dead instead of hunting it themselves.
What They Ate
Many animal bones have been found in the Caune de l'Arago cave. These bones show what Tautavel Man might have eaten. They include bones from:
- Rhinoceroses
- Horses
- Wild sheep (called Mouflon)
- Tahrs (which look like wild goats)
- Muskoxen (a type of large cow-like animal)
- Deer
- Reindeer
Their Place in History
Scientists are still discussing where Tautavel Man fits into the human family tree. Some think they might be a direct ancestor of the Neanderthal. If so, they would be called Homo heidelbergensis.
Others believe they are a type of Homo erectus. Homo erectus was an early human species that lived in many parts of the world. Some scientists have even suggested calling them Homo erectus Tautavelensis. This shows how unique these fossils are.
Images for kids
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Replicas of Arago 13 (left) and 2 (right)
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Reconstructed skeleton of Tautavel Man
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Beds D–H during 2008 excavation
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A Denticulate tool found at the Caune de l'Arago
See also
In Spanish: Hombre de Tautavel para niños
