Common name | Steinheim skull |
---|---|
Species | Neanderthal or Homo heidelbergensis |
Age | 300,000 years |
Place discovered | Germany |
Date discovered | 24 July 1933 |
The Steinheim skull is a fossilized skull of a Homo neanderthalensis[1] or Homo heidelbergensis found on 24 July 1933 near Steinheim an der Murr, Germany.[2]
It is estimated to be between 250,000 and 350,000 years old. The skull is slightly flattened and has a cranial capacity between 950 and 1280 cc.[3] Sometimes referred to as Homo steinheimensis in older literature, the original fossil is housed in the State Museum of Natural History in Stuttgart, Germany. Some believe that the Steinheim skull may have belonged to an adult female due to its gracile nature.[4]