Homo neanderthalensis Skull La Ferrassie 1 skull replica

Replica of the Homo neanderthalensis Skull (La Ferrassie 1)
Description – Materials and creation process:
3D-printed from durable plastic using a digital scan of the original La Ferrassie skull (France). Hand-painted to precisely match the color and texture of the original fossil.
Dimensions:
Full-scale life-sized replica:
23 cm (9.06") length × 16 cm (6.30") width × 14.5 cm (5.71") height
Jaw:
Lower jaw – missing (as in the original specimen)
Significance in anthropology:
Dating: ~50,000 years ago
Discovered: 1909 at La Ferrassie, France
Key features:

• Classic specimen of Western European Neanderthals
• Brain capacity ~1640 cm³ (larger than modern humans)
• Gold standard for studying "classic" Neanderthal traits

Anatomical characteristics:
Cranial features:

• Low, sloping forehead
• Occipital bun ("chignon")
• Elongated shape (dolichocephalic)

Facial structure:

• Prominent supraorbital ridges
• Large nasal aperture (cold climate adaptation)
• Midfacial prognathism
• Absence of chin prominence

Dental features:

• Characteristic anterior tooth wear ("shovel-shaped" incisors)
• Large molars

Scientific debates:
Taxonomic status:

• Subspecies of H. sapiens (H. s. neanderthalensis)
• Separate species H. neanderthalensis
• Genetic studies show 1-4% Neanderthal DNA in modern humans (except Africans)

Applications:

• Anthropological analysis of Neanderthal morphology
• Educational resource for paleoanthropology
• Comparative studies with modern humans
• Museum exhibitions
• Collectible specimen