Abrigo do Lagar Velho
Encyclopedia
Lagar Velho is rock-shelter in the Lapedo valley, a limestone canyon 13 km from the centre of Leiria
, in the municipality of Leiria
, in central Portugal
. The site is known for the discovery of a 24,000-year-old Cro-Magnon
child, later referred to as the Lapedo Child
.
human occupations of the region (between about 30,000 and 20,000 years), gathering at various levels respective traces and carved lithic remnants, associated with coeval faunal elements.
In 1998, the discovery of an early Upper Paleolithic
human burial site in the valley has provided evidence of early modern humans in southern Iberia
. The remains, the largely complete skeleton of an approximately 4-year-old child, was buried with a pierced shell and red ochre
(dated to circa
24,500 years B.P.). The cranium, mandible, dentition, and postcrania appear to present a mosaic of European early modern human and Neanderthal
features, although this interpretation is disputed. If the child was indeed a hybrid of anatomically modern humans and homo neanderthalensis, there could be significant implications regarding the Neanderthal interaction with Cro-Magnons and the taxonomical classification of these (possibly sub-) species.
In addition to the burial context, recent archaeological campaigns have uncovered various levels of a Gravettian habitat, identifying an excellent state of preservation and original spatial organization.
It is anticipated that archaeological museum, to be constructed in the Convent of Santo Agostinho , in the city of Leiria, will house the skeletal remains.
(genus Salix), European or Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Populus (family Salicaceae) and Vitis
grapevines (of the family Vitaceae
).
Leiria
Leiria is a city in Leiria Municipality in the Centro Region, Portugal. It is the capital of Leiria District. The city proper has 50,200 inhabitants and the entire municipality has nearly 120,000...
, in the municipality of Leiria
Leiria Municipality
Leiria Municipality is located in Leiria District in the Centro Region, Portugal. It contains the city of Leiria. It has nearly 120,000 inhabitants.-Demographics:According to the 2001 census, the population of the city is 50,200....
, in central Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. The site is known for the discovery of a 24,000-year-old Cro-Magnon
Cro-Magnon
The Cro-Magnon were the first early modern humans of the European Upper Paleolithic. The earliest known remains of Cro-Magnon-like humans are radiometrically dated to 35,000 years before present....
child, later referred to as the Lapedo Child
Lapedo child
The Lapedo child is a complete pre-historical skeleton found in Portugal. In 1998, the discovery of an early Upper Paleolithic human burial at Abrigo do Lagar Velho, by the team led by pre-history archeologist João Zilhão, has provided evidence of early modern humans from the west of the Iberian...
.
History
In archaeological terms, the site is known to integrate a stratigraphic sequence representative of much of the Upper PaleolithicUpper Paleolithic
The Upper Paleolithic is the third and last subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe, Africa and Asia. Very broadly it dates to between 40,000 and 10,000 years ago, roughly coinciding with the appearance of behavioral modernity and before the advent of...
human occupations of the region (between about 30,000 and 20,000 years), gathering at various levels respective traces and carved lithic remnants, associated with coeval faunal elements.
In 1998, the discovery of an early Upper Paleolithic
Upper Paleolithic
The Upper Paleolithic is the third and last subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe, Africa and Asia. Very broadly it dates to between 40,000 and 10,000 years ago, roughly coinciding with the appearance of behavioral modernity and before the advent of...
human burial site in the valley has provided evidence of early modern humans in southern Iberia
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
. The remains, the largely complete skeleton of an approximately 4-year-old child, was buried with a pierced shell and red ochre
Ochre
Ochre is the term for both a golden-yellow or light yellow brown color and for a form of earth pigment which produces the color. The pigment can also be used to create a reddish tint known as "red ochre". The more rarely used terms "purple ochre" and "brown ochre" also exist for variant hues...
(dated to circa
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
24,500 years B.P.). The cranium, mandible, dentition, and postcrania appear to present a mosaic of European early modern human and Neanderthal
Neanderthal
The Neanderthal is an extinct member of the Homo genus known from Pleistocene specimens found in Europe and parts of western and central Asia...
features, although this interpretation is disputed. If the child was indeed a hybrid of anatomically modern humans and homo neanderthalensis, there could be significant implications regarding the Neanderthal interaction with Cro-Magnons and the taxonomical classification of these (possibly sub-) species.
In addition to the burial context, recent archaeological campaigns have uncovered various levels of a Gravettian habitat, identifying an excellent state of preservation and original spatial organization.
It is anticipated that archaeological museum, to be constructed in the Convent of Santo Agostinho , in the city of Leiria, will house the skeletal remains.
Geography
Situated between the civil parishes of Caranguejeira and Santa Eufémia, the Valley of Lapedo is formed by the waters of the Ribeira de Caranguejeira. It is an area of natural diversity of flora and fauna, that includes Carrion Crows (Corvus corone), eagles and field rats, in addition to Black, European or Common Alder (Alnus glutinosa), WillowWillow
Willows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
(genus Salix), European or Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Populus (family Salicaceae) and Vitis
Vitis
Vitis is a genus of about 60 species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus is made up of species predominantly from the Northern hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, both for direct consumption of the fruit and for fermentation to produce...
grapevines (of the family Vitaceae
Vitaceae
Vitaceae are a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants including the grapevine and Virginia creeper. The family name is derived from the genus Vitis...
).