Over 120,000-year-old Neanderthal discovery in northern Catalonia

Experts have discovered six teeth in the Arbreda de Serinyà cave near Banyoles, in the northern county of Pla de l'Estany. Some of these teeth are estimated to be at least 120,000 years old and belong to Neanderthal individuals.

The finds include three children's teeth, one from a young individual, and one from an adult. At least two of the teeth date back 120,000 years, while one is estimated to be between 44,000 and 71,000 years old.

Analysis shows that among the six teeth are a right mandibular molar baby tooth, another right mandibular molar, and a right maxillary bicuspid. Preliminary studies indicate that these teeth could belong to Homo neanderthalensis.

The research has been published in the American Journal of Biological Anthropology, led by Marina Lozano, a researcher at the Catalan Institute of Human Palaeoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES-CERCA) and a professor at Tarragona’s University Rovira i Virgili.

“The discovery is very significant as it provides more information about Neanderthals in Arbreda at different points in time—at least 120,000 years ago, as well as between 71,000 and 44,000 years ago,” Lozano said.

The research team also includes members of the Catalan Cultural Heritage Research Institute, the University of Girona Institute of History Research, the University of Bordeaux, and Catalonia’s International University.