Also sent in by Gary, ( www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8015685/ … and by William. The skeleton of a Neanderthal individual (sex as yet undetermined) that lived around 70,000 years ago has been unearthed at Shanidar Cave in Kurdistan. The cave was the scene 60 years ago of a famous discovery of 10 sets of remains of Neanderthals. Some of them were laid in a channel in the cave floor which had been intentionally dug out to accommodate the bodies along with pollen (suggesting flowers had been deposited with them in an intentional show of grief). At the time this was thought surprising as Neanderthals were considered dull brutes. Perceptions have changed within the last 60 years …
… and Kevin also sent in a link to the same story at www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-51532781 … where we learn that the skull, spine and the torso of the latest find were unearthed – but its legs were missing. It is thought it was destroyed during the 1960s excavation and the legs may have been dug out with the bones of the ten earlier burials.