Neanderthal hand bones found in Spain

In northern Spain, archaeologists have uncovered Neanderthal hand bones that are about 46,000 years old. These remains were found in the Abauntz cave in the Navarre region by researchers from the Catalan Institute of Human Palaeoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES).

Details of the remains

The remains include a thumb phalanx, three metacarpals from the right hand, and two other fragments, all belonging to a single male Neanderthal. The preserved DNA in these bones has enabled faster research progress, and some of the bones show bite marks, indicating that a scavenger may have eaten parts of the body after death.

Significance of the cave location

The Abauntz cave is located in a corridor of the Pyrenees mountains and may have served as a passage for Neanderthal populations. Researchers Andión Arteaga and Mikel Arlegi, co-directors of the project, emphasized the cave's strategic importance for understanding how Neanderthals moved and interacted in the region.

Unique preservation of the bones

While other hand bones had been found at the site before, these are unique due to the well-preserved collagen, which allowed scientists to extract ancient DNA and accurately date the bones to 46,000 years ago. This Neanderthal man is among the last of his kind in this part of Europe, as the species became extinct a few thousand years later.

International collaboration and research

Experts from the Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany and the University of Vienna in Austria have also studied the bones. They are interested in this period because it is known that multiple Neanderthal lineages may have coexisted in Europe.

Insights into Neanderthal diversity

The Abauntz remains could help scientists better understand the diversity of Neanderthal populations during their final years. Similar studies, such as those on remains from El Sidrón in Asturias, have used genetic analysis to explore relationships between individuals and their evolution. Researchers hope the new fossils will reveal more about the people who lived in the Western Pyrenees and their connections to other European groups.