© Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya - Barcelona
Omeka ID 2632
Cova del Gegant
Prehistory

Neanderthal jaw

MAC BCN-049375

Object type
mandible
Production date
-53000
Fabric
-
Museum
Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya - Barcelona
Culture
Prehistory
Discovery location
Cova del Gegant
Materials
bone
Township
Sitges (Europa, Espanya, Catalunya, Barcelona, Garraf)
Technique
-
Where is it?
Exposició permanent
Dimensions
61x 46 x 29 mm
Description
Fragment of the mandible of an adult individual over 15 years old, dated to about 53,000 years ago. It displays a number of features that can be clearly associated with a Neanderthal, among which the most important are the lack of chin, its robustness, and rear position of the mental foramina through which the mandible is irrigated. This Neanderthal jaw from Cova del Gegant (Sitges) is one of the oldest and best preserved fossils of an extinct species of the genus Homo in Catalonia. So far in this territory, few Neanderthal remains have been found: the famous Banyoles jaw, and those from Cova del Gegant, the Cave of Teixoneres (Moià), and the Caves of Mollet and La Arboleda (Serinyà).