Ancient history

La Ferrassie | anthropological and archaeological site, France

La Ferrassie , also Written by La Ferassie , paleoanthropological site in the Dordogne in France, where Neanderthal Fossils were found in a rock shelter between 1909 and 1921. Although the first report was made in 1934, examination of the remains was not completed until 1982. The oldest fossils from La Ferrassie are estimated to date to around 50,000 years ago and are associated with Middle Ages stone tools Paleolithic . The remains include eight skeletons:a man, a woman, a 10-year-old child, a 3- to 5-year-old child, an infant, and three newborns. The skulls have classic Neanderthal characteristics. The adult male skull has a large forehead, a sloping forehead, and a prominent midface. The molars are small, but the front teeth are large and worn.

The site provides evidence that Neanderthals took great care of their dead because all individuals were intentional buried . A hillside grave contained the severed skull and lower skeleton of a child. The skull was covered with a limestone slab with markings on the underside. This evidence points to a fairly complex ritual system among Neanderthals. The remains are in the Museum of Man in Paris.