Age of Famous Neanderthal Hybrid Child Pinpointed With Breakthrough Method

The famous skeleton of a child with human and Neanderthal features has now been precisely dated, thanks to a new radiocarbon dating technique that provides a more accurate timeline of the child’s life. The Lapedo Child—so-named for the valley in Portugal in which it was found—was discovered in 1998, when students chanced upon the rock shelter that contained the remains. Excavations revealed the child’s nearly intact, ochre-stained skeleton, as well as animal bones, charcoal, and beads made from marine shells. But despite recovering a significant number of the child’s bones, archaeologists found the remains in relatively poor condition—meaning that until now, scientists have not been able to reliably date the child. The child was part of the Gravettian culture, which persisted across Europe between 32,000 and 24,000 years ago, and is perhaps most well-known for their voluptuous Venus figurines. Despite the Gravettian culture’s presence for thousands of years, Gravettian groups across ... Read full article.