Neanderthal Remains Discovered in Spain's Abauntz Cave Provide Direct Evidence of Early Humans
Archaeologists in Navarra have identified bone fragments belonging to a Neanderthal man in the Abauntz cave, marking the first direct human fossil evidence from the region.
A team of more than 25 specialists uncovered six Neanderthal bone fragments in the Abauntz cave near Arraitz-Orkin, Navarra, providing the first direct fossil proof of Neanderthal presence in the area. The fragments include two middle phalanges of the right hand, one middle finger bone, and additional pieces identified as human through protein and genetic analysis, confirming an adult male. Radiocarbon dating situates the remains in the Upper Paleolithic, and carnivore bite marks were found on the bones, offering clues about post-mortem processes.
The site also yielded stone tools and animal bones bearing cut-mark evidence, indicating the cave's role in prehistoric hunting and butchery activities. Ongoing excavations will continue, and the finds are slated for display at the Navarra Museum. The discovery was presented with regional government participation and involved institutions such as the University of Vienna and the Max Planck Evolutionary Anthropology Institute in Leipzig.
Why it matters
The find confirms Neanderthal occupation of northern Spain and offers new data on their late-Pleistocene life and interactions.
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