Shanidar Cave

Shanidar Cave, located in the Zagros Mountains of northern Iraq, is a significant archaeological site known for its extensive Neanderthal remains. The site features a large cave that served as a habitation space and burial ground for Neanderthals between approximately 65,000 and 35,000 years ago. Key finds include the well-preserved Shanidar 1, a Neanderthal male who exhibited signs of severe injury and possible care by his community, and Shanidar 4, known for the 'flower burial' which suggested ritualistic behavior. The cave also contains a proto-Neolithic cemetery dating back to around 10,600 BCE. The presence of various cultural layers, including Mousterian and Baradostian, along with Neolithic deposits, highlights the cave's long-term occupation and its role in understanding human and Neanderthal evolution, subsistence practices, and social behaviors.