Face of Neanderthal Woman Revealed 75,000 Years After She Died

A picture shows the rebuilt skull and a physical reconstruction of the face and head, of a 75,000-year-old Neanderthal woman, named Shanidar Z, after the cave in Iraqi Kurdistan where her skull was found in 2018, at the University of Cambridge, eastern England, on April 25, 2024.

Shanidar Z, a Neanderthal woman, had her shattered skull meticulously reconstructed over six years by archaeologists at England’s University of Cambridge. This facial reconstruction provided new insights into the appearance and thoughts of our ancient relatives.

Dr. Emma Pomeroy, a paleo-anthropologist at Cambridge, noted that Neanderthal and human skulls appear quite different but suggested that in life, these differences were less pronounced.

The new 3D model: Neanderthals were a separate species to us, but similar in so many ways

Neanderthals, who evolved from the same ancestor as modern humans between 700,000 and 300,000 years ago, coexisted with us before becoming extinct around 40,000 years ago. They were shorter and stockier with large noses but had brains comparable in size to ours.

Shanidar Z, discovered in 2018 in Iraqi Kurdistan, is considered one of the best-preserved Neanderthals. The research at her burial site, conducted for the documentary "Secrets of the Neanderthals," has settled the debate about Neanderthals burying their dead.

Associate Professor in the Evolution of Health, Diet and Disease, Dr Emma Pomeroy, poses for a photograph with the rebuilt skull and a physical reconstruction of the face and head, of a 75,000-year-old Neanderthal woman, named Shanidar Z, at the University of Cambridge, eastern England, on April 25, 2024.

The meticulous reconstruction process involved piecing together her shattered skull using glue and CT scans, followed by 3D printing to reveal her face. The cave where she was found, near Erbil, may have been a significant burial site, suggesting Neanderthals had a deep understanding of death.

These discoveries challenge misconceptions about Neanderthals, showing they may have shared similar thoughts about death as modern humans.