A new study has unraveled the mystery of a bizarre fossilized man discovered in a calcite mine within the cave system near Altamura, Italy, nearly three decades ago.
In 1993, archaeologists uncovered a fossilized body inside a calcite mine in the cave system near the town of Altamura, Italy. According to experts, the remains belong to a man who died over 130,000 years ago.
Due to the crystallization of minerals in the mine over the past 130,000 years, the man’s body appears to be lying amidst a “forest” of coral. For research purposes, scientists named this fossilized body Altamura Man.
According to a publication in the scientific journal PLOS One, this skeleton does not belong to our species but to an extinct human species that once thrived in what is now Europe: the Neanderthals.
When excavated in 1993, images of Altamura Man immediately attracted attention. He appeared to be lying in a coral-like environment, and his skull was oddly “decorated.”
Close-up of the fossilized remains of another species of man preserved by nature for 130,000 years – (Photo: Sapienza Universita de Roma).
According to Ancient Origins, thanks to modern techniques and the astonishing preservation of the remains, the secrets of Altamura Man have finally come to light. Not only did the research team, led by Professor Dr. Jacopo Moggi-Cecchi from the University of Florence, determine the species, but they also discovered that he was a skilled leatherworker. Marks on his teeth suggest they were used as a “third hand” to stretch animal hides.
The jaw, with some parts remarkably preserved, also revealed gum disease and dental calculus that the man suffered from.
Although the remains have been left in the position they were found in the cave, researchers have reconstructed the man’s posture using models and determined that he experienced a horrific death: he fell into the cave, remained alive but could not climb back up, and ultimately died of starvation. He passed away in adulthood. Before his death, this individual lost two teeth.
Dr. Moggi-Cecchi stated that they are developing a plan to retrieve this man’s remains from the cave. Although the skull is exposed above the minerals, the lower jaw is not. There is evidence suggesting that the remaining parts of his body have been preserved like a fossilized mummy! If this is true, it would be “a dream” for scientists, as finding intact Neanderthal bones has been incredibly challenging since their extinction 40,000 years ago.
