Find a new 500,000 years of human skull in Atapuerca

Archaeologists working at the site of Atapuerca Burgos had found a human skull of 500,000 years old belonging to the species Homo heidelbergensis

According to scientists, the discovery is "an exceptional event anywhere in the world."


The remains include a bone and parietal bone Fronta

According to the Fundación Atapuerca, the new skull, number 17 in the series, was found in the pit of bones, internationally known as the richest fossils of the planet in humans. The remains include a parietal bone and a nearly complete frontal bone. A preliminary copy appears to be a young adult male. The fragments will be reconstructed and studied throughout the coming winter.
These fossils have an age of around 500,000 years ago and are attributed to the species Homo heidelbergensis. Although the first fossil human jaw a rest, this deposit was found in 1976, systematic excavations began here until 1984. In the campaign of 1992 three human skulls were found very close to complete the north wall and have since been recovering here, including human fossils, numerous skull with which it has been possible to reconstruct, over the past 17 years , a dozen human skulls fairly complete. Moreover, in the campaigns of 2001, 2007 and 2008 unearthed three skulls were very thorough in the field (named informally as Benjamin, and The Head Girl).

Findings in the gallery of statues in the Gallery of Statues of Cueva Mayor has begun an excavation that has already provided interesting archaeological and fossil material. This new site is very promising and over winter they will know the results of analysis aimed at establishing a strong seniority. Could correspond to the time of the Neanderthals. In the field of Portalón have continued with the excavation of the levels of late Neolithic and the beginning of the Age of Metals (makes about 4,500 years old). In particular, we are digging a large burial mounds, which is a perfect example of megalithic inside the cave and have appeared in which some human remains.