The Hahnöfersand frontal bone: (a) and (b) show the bone in its current state and (c)-(f) depict its reconstruction.
| Photo Credit: Sci. Rep. 16, 12696 (2026)
Researchers recently reevaluated a famous fossil known as the Hahnöfersand frontal bone. It was first found in Germany in 1973, with scientists dating the bone to 36,000 years ago.
Scientists’ early descriptions of the bone suggested that, going by its robust appearance, the individual who had it was a hybrid between a Neanderthal and a modern human. However, newer dating methods recently revealed that the bone is much younger, originating only about 7,500 years ago, from the Mesolithic period.
Published – April 21, 2026 11:56 am IST

