Archaeologists uncover Neanderthal remains in caves near Rome

Fossilised remains, supposed to belong to Neanderthal men, are seen at a prehistoric site in Guattari cave in San Felice Circeo, Italy, 2021. Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism/ Handout via REUTERS

MILAN — Archaeologists discovered the remains of nine Neanderthals at a prehistoric site near Rome, Italy’s Culture ministry said on Saturday.

Eight of the remains are dated to between 50,000 and 68,000 years ago, while one, the oldest, is dated to between 90,000 and 100,000 years ago, the ministry said in a statement.

The find occurred in Grotta Guattari, prehistoric caves discovered more than 80 years ago, located around 100 meters from the coast of Tyrrhenian Sea in San Felice Circeo, near Latina, in the Lazio region.

Video footage from the ministry showed bones, craniums and other body parts found at the site.

Neanderthals, the closest ancient relatives of humans, died out about 40,000 years ago. It is unclear what killed them off, although theories include an inability to adapt to climate change and increased competition from modern humans.

Taking into account other remains found previously at the same site, there are in total 11 individuals present in Grotta Guattari, which is “confirmed as one of the most significant places in the world for the history of Neanderthal man,” the ministry said.

“They are all adult individuals, except for one who may have been in his early teens,” Francesco Di Mario, head of the Grotta Guattari excavation, said in the statement.

Animal remains have also been found, including the aurochs, a large extinct bovine.