Netflix recently released a documentary titled Secrets of the Neanderthals, which delved into an excavation, that led to some baffling revelations about the extinct archaic humans. Most importantly, this project showcased scientists reconstructing the skull of a Neanderthal woman, dubbed Shanidar Z. According to BBC, the reconstruction was so impressive that viewers got a clear idea of what she looked like in the flesh.
Scientists discovered Shanidar Z’s skull in the Shanidar Cave in Iraqi Kurdistan. Interestingly, this location is iconic because researchers have discovered at least 10 skeletal remains of men, women, and children here. When officials from Britain arrived here for excavation in 2015, they stumbled upon Shanidar Z’s skeleton, which constituted her shoulders, spine, hands, and arms. Scientists then went through painstaking go steps to reconstruct her face. Her remains were in a fragile condition, so they had to be extra careful with the process. First, they made sure the skeleton was strong enough to work with, and then they reassembled the fragments.
In the end, experienced paleoartists successfully managed to create a 3D model of Shanidar Z’s face. Palaeoanthropologist Dr Emma Pomeroy, a member of the excavation team, said that the discovery can aid modern humans in understanding their past. Furthermore, she felt blessed and privileged to work with the Neanderthal woman’s remains.
According to Secrets of the Neanderthals’ trailer on YouTube, its synopsis reads, “SECRETS OF THE NEANDERTHALS take viewers on a journey from their preconceptions of Neanderthals as a dim-witted creature to a complex and creative people. Through the lens of a unique, ongoing excavation and a landmark new discovery. The best-preserved Neanderthal skeleton found in over a quarter century.”
How did scientists determine that Shanidar Z was female?
Researchers studied Shanidar Z’s remains and learned that she was a woman. Even though they did not possess her pelvic bones, they found specific inactive proteins in her tooth enamel, which is linked to female genetics. Furthermore, there was stature in her skeleton that solidified the scientists’ claims.
In addition, due to her severely worn-out teeth, scientists believe that Shanidar Z was in her 40s when she died. Dr Emma Pomeroy said that because of her dental state, the Neanderthal woman faced difficulty in chewing and consuming food. They were infected and had gum disease. Pomeroy stated, “By the time the teeth are getting this worn. Chewing is not as effective as it would have been. So she’s not able to eat in quite the same way. We’ve got some other indications of poor dental health. Some infections, some gum disease as well. By this time, I think she was getting to the natural end of life.”
According to Smithsonian’s Human Origins, the term Neanderthal was coined in the year 1864. The Anglo-Irish geologist William King named the archaic humans based on its site of discovery, the Neander Valley in Germany. Scientists previously believed that Neanderthals were dim-witted and unsophisticated. However, they realized their studies were inaccurate.
Neanderthals were skilled hunters, used tools and fire, wore clothes, and lived in shelters. Furthermore, evidence stated that they buried their dead and even practiced grave marking.
