Secrets of the Neanderthals – The Archaeological Wonders

Gibraltar is showcased in a documentary film by the BBC Studios Science Unit called “Secrets of the Neanderthals.” The film uncovers recent discoveries and scientific advancements that help us better understand our closest relatives.

According to BBC Studios, the Neanderthals lived for more than 300,000 years but eventually vanished while modern humans endured. This archaeological journey aims to unravel why the Neanderthals thrived for a long time and what led to their disappearance.

Archaeologists Piece Back Together Ancient Skull Found in Iraq

Exploring caves in Iraqi Kurdistan, Croatia, and a secret location in France, the documentary highlights Gibraltar’s Gorham’s Cave complex as one of the last known places where Neanderthals lived before disappearing.

With special access to Shanidar Cave in Iraqi Kurdistan, “Secrets of the Neanderthals” accompanies a team of archaeologists from the University of Cambridge and Liverpool John Moores University, led by Professor Graeme Barker. They collaborate with Kurdish colleagues to excavate this historic site for the first time since 1960.

During their excavations, they made a significant discovery: a new Neanderthal skeleton named Shanidar Z. This finding marks the first articulated ancient skeleton found in the region in nearly 25 years. The documentary follows lead paleoanthropologist Dr. Emma Pomeroy as she meticulously unearths and reconstructs these precious remains with her team in Cambridge.

Neanderthals Brought to Modern Time with VFX.

The discoveries made in this incredible cave are helping create a vivid new understanding of the ancient world. Using innovative VFX techniques, the basic shape of Neanderthal skulls has been projected onto the faces of modern human actors, bringing this ancient world to life with the most lifelike reconstructions of Neanderthals ever seen.

These reconstructions are all based on archaeological evidence from Shanidar and other sites where Neanderthals lived. In Krapina, Croatia, the documentary explores a cave where evidence suggests they practiced cannibalism, potentially holding a deeper significance.

Additionally, in a hidden location in Bruniquel, France, researchers have discovered a ring of stalagmites deep within a cave. These stalagmites were built by Neanderthals around 170,000 years ago, predating Stonehenge by a significant margin.