Researchers have determined the age of the Neanderthal man from La Ferracy based on animal bones.

An international team of researchers has clarified the age of the skeleton of La Ferrassie-1, one of the most complete remains of Homo neanderthalensis, discovered in 1909 at the site of the same name in France. The results allow us to date the deposit to the period 42610-39830 years ago. This is reported in an article in the Journal of Archaeological Science, published on the Science Direct website.

Scientists have studied 64 fragments of animal bones stored with the skeleton of a Neanderthal in a Paris museum. With the help of paleoproteomics, it was possible to establish that 50 of them belong to representatives of the Polorhynchus family, as well as fragments of deer and elephant.

Six samples were selected for radiocarbon dating. Modeling has shown that Neanderthal-related sediments were formed in the range of 43270-39060 years ago, and the burial episode itself dates back to the period 42610-39830 years ago.

The authors emphasize that the results obtained place La Ferrasi-1 in the same cultural and chronological horizon as La Ferrasi-8, the remains of a Neanderthal child dated 41.7-40.8 thousand years ago and interpreted as compatible with burial.

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On December 24 last year, the journal PLOS One reported on the emergence of two species of ancient people in Africa, not one. This hypothesis was confirmed by an international group of scientists, who found out that species such as Homo georgicus and Homo caucasi originated in the region.

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