Oase 2

Oase 2

Exhibit item

Site: 

PeÅŸtera cu Oase, Romania

Date of discovery: 

2003

Discovered by: 

Ştefan Milota, Ricardo Rodrigo, Oana Moldovan and João Zilhão

Age: 

About 41,500–39,500 years old

Species: 

Homo sapiens

This skull looks modern but retains a few archaic traits, such as wide cheek bones. Some scientists wonder if this means that on rare occasions Homo sapiens interbred with Neanderthals, who lived in Europe at the same time.

Image Credit: James Di Loreto, & Donald H. Hurlbert, Smithsonian Institution