Kleine Feldhofer Grotte, Archaeological cave site in Neandertal, Germany
Kleine Feldhofer Grotte is a prehistoric cave in the Neandertal valley, a small natural opening in the limestone cliff about 3 meters wide and 5 meters deep. It sits roughly 20 meters above the valley floor and was once home to very early humans.
In August 1856, workers found bone remains here that turned out to be from Neanderthals, marking the first recognized specimens of this extinct human species. This discovery fundamentally changed how people understood early European history.
The site remains important for understanding how early people lived thousands of years ago and shaped our knowledge of human development. It connects scientific research with the heritage of this region.
A roughly 25-meter observation tower lets visitors reach the original height of the cave and see the discovery location from that viewpoint. The tower is the best way to understand the site and its surroundings.
Genetic material from bone samples was fully decoded in 2009, revealing secrets about the DNA of these extinct people. This analysis helped scientists learn more about how these early inhabitants lived.
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