Neanderthals: Archaeologists dig deeper into the lives of our relatives
Ongoing excavations of the archaeological site l’Abric Romaní will provide greater insight into the life of Neanderthals from 60,000 years ago
neanderthal
Neanderthal’s period of greater expansion to be discovered at Catalan archaeological site Abric Romaní
The archaeological site known as Abric Romaní is currently being excavated for the 31st year in order to continue documenting and understanding how Neanderthals lived and organised communities in the north-eastern Iberian Peninsula. The archaeologist, palaeontologist and Director of excavations, Eudald Carbonell, has explained to the CNA that this campaign will be “very interesting” as the dig will be in the level corresponding to the time when the Neanderthals lived “their maximum expansion period”. Carbonell, who is one of the directors of Atapuerca site (where the Homo Antecessor was discovered), leads a team of 20 including research staff and doctoral students. The site is located some 50 kilometres west of Barcelona city and is open for the public to visit.
Researchers from the University of Barcelona sequence DNA material of a Neanderthal found in Catalonia
Two archaeologists from the Universitat de Barcelona have determined 52 pairs of the genetic sequence of a jaw found in the Catalan coastal town of Sitges in 2005, popularly known as the “Jaw of Sitges”. The experts could genetically identify the fossil as a Neanderthal.
The world’s oldest wooden tool with a handle discovered in Central Catalonia
Archaeologists discover a 56,000 year old wooden tool, the oldest of its kind ever to have been discovered in the Catalan town of Capellades. The tool is thought to have been used by Neanderthals for maintaining their fires and is "unique in the world".