Oldest-ever skeleton in Spain found intact: The 'human bridge' between evolutionary era and modern man
Friday, March 12, 2021 @ 7:56 PM
REMAINS of a man found in a cave in the northern region of Navarra are the oldest ever discovered in Spain completely intact, according to the multi-national team of archaeologists and anthropologists working on the site, who include experts from the universities of Cambridge and York (UK).
The well-preserved remains of a man who lived during the transition from the last ice age to modern climate conditions have remained untouched in a cave since his burial around 11,700 years ago (photo by the archaeology and anthropology team working on site)
Discovered in the Errotalde I cave, within the boundaries of the town of Erro in the Aintzioa-Loizu district, the skeleton is complete, anatomically-connected, and is of a young adult male aged approximately 17 to 21 years old.
Almost perfectly preserved, the skeleton has a hole in the skull consistent with impact by a projectile object, but more intensive study is needed to ascertain whether this was the cause of death.
His body had been lain face-down, stretched out and with his arms across his stomach, a position which, combined with the exceptional level of conservation, has led researchers to believe he had been wrapped in a blanket or primitive 'body-bag' before being covered with a reddish sediment, probably ochre.
And since his burial, the man's remains have never been touched – until now.
The 'Loizu Man' ('Hombre de Loizu'), as he has been dubbed by investigators, is thought to have lived and died in around 9,700 BC, making him over 11,700 years old.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com