The Old Man of La Chapelle

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Human: The Old Man of La Chapelle' is a 60,000 year old skull of a Neanderthal (Homo neanderthalensis) discovered in 1908. This skeleton is the first relatively complete one ever found by scientists. Buried in limestone bedrock near La Chapelle-aux-Saints, France, it includes the skull, jaw, most vertebrae, several ribs, long bones of arms and legs, and some smaller bones of hands and feet. The well-preserved skull shows a low forehead, protruding midface, and heavy browridges typical of Homo neanderthalensis. Scientists estimate he was quite old at death as bone had regrown along gums where he lost several teeth. He lacked so many teeth it's possible food needed to be ground down before eating. Other Neanderthals may have supported him in his final years.