Archaeologists discover remains of 9 Neanderthals near Rome

Phys.org ^ | May 8, 2021

[ETL]

Italian archaeologists have uncovered the fossilized remains of nine Neanderthals in a cave near Rome, shedding new light on how the Italian peninsula was populated and under what environmental conditions.

The Italian Culture Ministry announced the discovery Saturday, saying it confirmed that the Guattari Cave in San Felice Circeo was "one of the most significant places in the world for the history of Neanderthals." A Neanderthal skull was discovered in the cave in 1939.

The fossilized bones include skulls, skull fragments, two teeth and other bone fragments. The oldest remains date from between 100,000 and 90,000 years ago, while the other eight Neanderthals are believed to date from 50,000-68,000 years ago, the Culture Ministry said in a statement.

The excavations, begun in 2019, involved a part of the cave that hadn't yet been explored, including a lake first noted by the anthropologist Alberto Carlo Blanc, who is credited with the 1939 Neanderthal skull discovery.

Culture Minister Dario Franceschini called the finding "an extraordinary discovery that will be the talk of the world."

Anthropologist Mauro Rubini said the large number of remains suggest a significant population of Neanderthals, "the first human society of which we can speak."

Archaeologists said the cave had perfectly preserved the environment of 50,000 years ago. They noted that fossilized animal remains found in the cave—elephant, rhinoceros and giant deer, among others—shed light on the flora and fauna of the area and its climactic history.

---

Explore further

Closer look shows Neanderthals on La Cotte de St Brelade interbred with modern humans

[dynachrome]

“interbred with modern humans”

I worked with one or two neanderthals.

[edwinland]

The fossilized bones include skulls, skull fragments, two teeth and other bone fragments but no traces of cotton or other fibers indicating the presence of face masks. As these Neanderthals are believed to date from 50,000-68,000 years ago, the Culture Ministry speculated that the remains are related to the mass die off that followed the Neanderthals' relaxation of mask requirements on the Apennine Peninsula in 66,000 BC.

[aquila48]

That explains where my 2% Neanderthal genes come from.

[ETL]

Lol!

Clever!

[ZOOKER]

It was a hyena cave .
They were the food .

Now that makes sense.
I was saying to myself "This cave was their home, and they kept dead people hanging around, attracting scavengers and stinking up the place? That makes no sense at all."

[ETL]

Re: Neanderthal genes

[Vaquero]

I’m only 2% Neanderthal.

[PghBaldy]

They should have just rented a room from Frank Luntz!

[ETL]

They were known to put pineapple and cucumbers on their pizza.

Speaking of which, here's the "red diaper baby" half-Italian, half-Neanderthal, mayor of New York City, Comrade De Blasio, eating a pizza...with a knife and fork!

[ETL]

[Georgia Girl 2]

I’ll admit to 2%. 😉

[Eric in the Ozarks]

One of em coached my high school football team...

[SantosLHalper]

Tex Cobb.

[Jewbacca]

Apparently I am 4%.

I am really tall and shaped vaguely like a great ape (big shoulders and long arms).

[BenLurkin]

With feta cheese.

Thin crust.

Artisanal.

Very hip.

[dinodino]

FYI, that’s how one eats pizza in Italy.

[ETL]

FYI, that’s how one eats pizza in Italy.

I just looked it up and found this (below). Apparently, in Italy, all, or most, pizza isn’t served pre-sliced. So one one HAS to cut it up themselves. It’s also apparently of a different type: long uncut rectangle
_____________

Don’t Expect Your Pizza to Come Sliced

Picture yourself sitting down in a cozy restaurant after a long day of sightseeing. You’re famished, and the smells emanating from the wood-fired oven are making you salivate.

The waiter heads your way with a beautiful margherita pizza in hand. He puts it in front of you and you notice that it isn’t sliced, what now? Italians eat pizza with a fork and knife.

Pizza is to be enjoyed straight from the oven and piping hot. Waiting for your dinner to cool down is just not an option – protocol says it should be enjoyed straight away. Therefore, if you grab a hot slice you’re begging for a burn. Just cut it up with the knife and fork and spare yourself the inevitable pain. ...”

https://theromanguy.com/italy-travel-blog/italy/the-ultimate-guide-to-pizza-in-italy-eat-pizza-like-a-local/

[dainbramaged]

Neanderthals had larger brains than modern man.

[dinodino]

No, it’s typically round, at least in my experience. Definitely uncut, though.

[Bookwoman]

The horror!