Neanderthal is the first human fossil, slightly different from us, that was discovered. He developed his individuality in Europe, a continent he occupied until some 35,000 years ago.

He descends from the first human groups that spread from Africa throughout Europe about 1,800,000 years ago. Neanderthal acquired his specific morphology on this continent between 500,000 and 120,000 years ago. As from this date, he is called a "classic Neanderthal".

It is also in Europe, that he, "the" European citizen above all, disappeared between 40,000 and 30,000 years ago. At the same time, anatomically modern Men, coming most likely from the Near East, began to populate our continent. They are our direct ancestors.

The exhibition at the Prehistory Museum of Solutré is open 04.04.2015 – 28.02.2016. 



For more information you might download the Dossier de Presse (in French).