Sidrón Cave
Encyclopedia
The Sidrón Cave is an ancient cave
in Piloña
municipality, Asturias
, northwestern Spain
, where Paleolithic rock art
and Neanderthal
remains have been found. It is approximately 600 meters in length.
In 1994, Neanderthal remains were inadvertently uncovered inside the cave. Archaeologists have since recovered the remains of at least 12 individuals: three men, three adolescent boys, three women, and three infants. Neanderthal ancient mtDNA was partially sequenced in HVR region for three distinct Neanderthals from El Sidrón cave (441, 1253, and 1351c). 1253 and 1351c have the same mutations at position A-911, G-977 in exon 7 of FOXP2
gene, known as the "language gene", as present-day people.
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
in Piloña
Piloña
Piloña is a municipality in the province and autonomous community of Asturias, northwestern Spain. Its capital is the town of Infiesto. Piloña is bounded to the north by Villaviciosa and Colunga, to the east by Parres, to the west by Nava and Cabranes, and to the south by Ponga, Caso and Sobrescobio...
municipality, Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
, northwestern Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, where Paleolithic rock art
Rock art
Rock art is a term used in archaeology for any human-made markings made on natural stone. They can be divided into:*Petroglyphs - carvings into stone surfaces*Pictographs - rock and cave paintings...
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...
remains have been found. It is approximately 600 meters in length.
In 1994, Neanderthal remains were inadvertently uncovered inside the cave. Archaeologists have since recovered the remains of at least 12 individuals: three men, three adolescent boys, three women, and three infants. Neanderthal ancient mtDNA was partially sequenced in HVR region for three distinct Neanderthals from El Sidrón cave (441, 1253, and 1351c). 1253 and 1351c have the same mutations at position A-911, G-977 in exon 7 of FOXP2
FOXP2
Forkhead box protein P2 also known as FOXP2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FOXP2 gene, located on human chromosome 7 . FOXP2 orthologs have also been identified in all mammals for which complete genome data are available...
gene, known as the "language gene", as present-day people.
See also
- List of fossil sites (with link directory)
- OrceOrceOrce is a municipality located in the province of Granada, in southeastern Spain. According to the 2009 census , the city has a population of 1333 inhabitants.- Significance in Paleoanthropology :...
, Atapuerca Mountains, La Cueva de Balzola, Sima de las PalomasTorre-PachecoTorre-Pacheco is a municipality in the autonomous region of Murcia in southeastern Spain. It has a population of 27,400 and an area of 189.4 km². The only elevation of the municipality is the Cabezo Gordo, the location of the Sima de las Palomas, a protected archeological site...
, Forbes' Quarry and Devil's Tower (Gibraltar), other important archaeological sites in the Iberian PeninsulaIberian PeninsulaThe 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...
, where ancient human remains have been found - Ancient DNAAncient DNAAncient DNA is DNA isolated from ancient specimens. It can be also loosely described as any DNA recovered from biological samples that have not been preserved specifically for later DNA analyses...