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Feldhofer

 
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Feldhofer
Exhibit item
Nickname: 
Neanderthal Man
Site: 
Feldhofer Cave, Neander Valley, Germany
Date of discovery: 
1856
Discovered by: 
Local quarryman
Age: 
About 40,000 years old
Species: 
Homo neanderthalensis

Historic Neanderthal

Discovered in 1856, this Neanderthal from Germany was the first fossil recognized as an early human. DNA from this individual shows that Neanderthals are very closely related to us but on their own branch of the human family tree.

Image of Feldhofer, 3D scan, 3/4 view
Image Credit: Human Origins Program/Image from 3D Scan