Homo heidelbergensis skull Atapuerca 5 (350,000 to 500,000 years)

The Homo heidelbergensis skull Atapuerca 5 was discovered in Spain in 1992 by Juan-Luis Arsuaga, in the fossil-rich caves of Sima de los Huesos (Bone Pit), Sierra de Atapuerca.  This site has thus far yielded over 5000 fossil hominid remains.  Although somewhat smaller than other H. heidelbergensis, this individual is considered among the most complete premodern skulls ever found.  The cranial capacity is 1125cm³.  The cranial features of skulls in the Sima de los Huesos collection, including cranial capacity, overlap the ranges for H. erectus, H. neanderthalensis, and modern H. sapiens.  In fact, Atapuerca 5 shares many features with H. neanderthalensis, such as heavy brow ridges, wide nasal opening, and large, projecting middle face.  Certain features, such as the shape of the cheekbone, do not occur in Neanderthals but do in modern humans.

Stand available - see product code SBH022.

Model size: 20.5(L) x 12.5(W) x 18(H) cm

The Bone Clones® Hominid Series

Our aim is to provide the best possible facsimile models of the most important hominid finds for the general public, educators and students, using the best reference material available.  Each hominid has been carefully researched and re-created based on some or all of the following: casts of original fossils, the latest literature (descriptions and/or published measurements), input from the scientific community and full colour, life-size photographs.  Every effort has been made to accurately re-create anatomical details of colour, size, shape, reconstructed areas, and bone/fossil texture.  The hominids offered in this series are high quality, artistic recreations that can be advantageously used by educators as important visual aids in the classroom and appreciated by the general public.  They are not intended for advanced graduate work nor to be measured for research purposes.

(Information courtesy Bone Clones, Inc)