An extraordinary discovery on Neanderthal Man

Neanderthal Man in Circeo, Lazio

Rome [ENA] New finds have been discovered in Circeo, about one hour drive south of Rome, which are fundamental for the study of Neanderthal man and his behavior. The discovery has been made more than eighty years after the discovery of the Guattari Cave in San Felice Circeo (LT) always in Lazio region. In the course of systematic research by the Superintendence of Archeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the provinces

of Frosinone and Latina in collaboration with the University of Rome Tor Vergata, which began in October 2019, significant fossil finds have emerged attributable to 9 individuals of Neanderthal man: 8 datable between 50 thousand and 68 thousand years ago and one, the oldest, datable between 100 thousand and 90 thousand years ago. These, together with the other two found in the past at the site, bring the total number of individuals present in the Guattari Cave to 11, which thus confirms itself as one of the most significant places in the world for the history of Neanderthal man. It is an extraordinary discovery that the whole world will talk about because it enriches research on Neanderthals.

Skull of Neanderthal Man recently found at Circeo

It is the result of the work of the Superintendency together with universities and research bodies, truly an exceptional thing. Numerous individuals were found with this excavation campaign, a discovery that will shed an important light on the history of the population of Italy. Neanderthal man is a fundamental stage of human evolution, he represents the apex of a species and is the first human society we can talk about. All the remains found belong to adult individuals except one, perhaps a youthful. It is a satisfactory representation of a population that must have been quite large in the area. Studies and genetic analyzes are carried out with advanced techniques which are capable of

Neanderthal man finds Finds in Circeo

revealing a lot of information. The geological and sedimentological study of this deposit will shed light on the climatic changes that took place between 120 thousand and 60 thousand years ago, through the study of animal species and pollen, allowing to reconstruct the history of the Circeo and the Pontine plain. The characteristic of this place is that it allows a real journey through time: today's conditions are essentially the same as 50,000 years ago and the presence of fossils makes the cave an exceptional database. Recent excavations have returned thousands of animal bone finds that enrich the reconstruction of the fauna, environment and climate.

Biological analyzes and genetic research will allow us to reconstruct the vegetation, climate and environment in which our ancestors lived. Isotope analyzes will allow us to reconstruct the diet of the animal species examined and the ancient diet of Neanderthal man. The excavations and investigations have also been extended to the outside of the cave where stratigraphies and paleosurfaces of attendance have been identified dating back to 60 thousand and 125 thousand years ago which testify the moments of life of the Neanderthal man, the places where they stationed and where, lighting the fire and ate their own prey. The discovery of charcoal and burnt animal bones in fact authorizes the hypothesis of the presence of a structured hearth.

Neanderthal man finds Finds in Circeo

The investigations are still ongoing and involve numerous scholars from various and important national research bodies: INGV, CNR / IGAG, University of Pisa, University of Rome La Sapienza. Work is being done to reconstruct the paleoecological picture of the Pontine plain between 125,000 and about 50,000 years ago, when our extinct "cousins" frequented the Lazio region. The research that the Ministry of Culture is still conducting in the area systemically addresses all aspects of the life of the Neanderthals and of the Lazio region and confirms, once again, the importance of Circeo for the knowledge of Neanderthals at the level European and global.