Scientists pinpoint age of suspected human-Neanderthal hybrid child
Advanced radiocarbon dating has provided the most accurate age assessment yet for the “Lapedo Child,” one of the most provocative prehistoric human skeletons ever discovered. But the results of this study published March 7 in the journal Science Advances aren’t likely to settle an ongoing debate in the paleoarcheological community. Who is the Lapedo Child? In 1998, researchers exploring the Lapedo Valley in central Portugal came across an unexpected find: a rock shelter situated at a cliffbase containing an ancient child’s nearly intact, ochre-stained skeleton along with items such as pierced shells and animal bones possibly used in a burial ritual. The team excavated and transported the bones to a lab, where they later determined the remains belonged to a roughly 4-year-old juvenile who lived approximately 24,500 years ago. Further analysis revealed that the prehistoric “Lapedo Child” displayed a unique blend of physical characteristics that would soon make them famous: a mixture of...