These archeological discoveries changed everything! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down the most fascinating, revealing, mysterious, and important skulls that archeology has uncovered over the years.
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00:00 It is the earliest evidence of modern human out of Africa, out of the African continent.
00:06 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down the most fascinating,
00:10 revealing, mysterious, and important skulls that archaeology has uncovered over the years.
00:16 So this skull with its plaster face was found at Jericho,
00:19 and he was actually part of a set of seven people who were all buried together.
00:24 Number 10. The Dmanisi Skulls - Homo Erectus
00:29 This fossilized human Homo erectus skull may be about to change the textbooks.
00:34 Comprising five crania, these Homo erectus specimens date back 1.8 million years
00:40 and challenge prior taxonomic classifications,
00:42 suggesting a greater morphological diversity within the species.
00:46 The cranial variations observed in the Dmanisi skulls point to regional adaptations,
00:51 questioning the notion of a homogenous Homo erectus population during the Pleistocene epoch.
00:55 Simply, it may mean all the world's peoples have one common ancestor.
00:59 These findings prompt a re-evaluation of early human dispersals,
01:03 emphasizing their adaptability and flexibility in diverse environmental contexts.
01:08 Their significance lies in their capacity to reshape our grasp of the evolutionary dynamics
01:13 and behavioral complexities in the genus during a critical period in prehistory.
01:17 Number 9. The Tongue Child - Australopithecus Africanus
01:22 Very early attempt at the reconstruction of what the Tongue Child would have looked like
01:27 when it was alive.
01:29 This fossilized skull of Australopithecus Africanus was discovered in South Africa in 1924
01:35 and dates back 2.8 million years.
01:38 After working with the hammers and chisels and knitting needles, this magnificent face emerged.
01:45 It is a pivotal artifact in paleoanthropology, offering insights into early hominins.
01:51 Notably, the Tongue Child exhibits evidence of bipedal locomotion and tool use,
01:56 challenging previous notions about the cognitive and locomotor capabilities
02:00 of hominins during the Pliocene epoch.
02:02 The fossil provides a crucial link in the evolutionary transition from ape-like ancestors
02:11 to more bipedal and tool-using hominins.
02:14 Its significance extends to the broader narrative of evolution.
02:18 Number 8. Huey Zompotli - Homo Sapiens
02:21 Hidden behind this nondescript facade is a structure as historic as it is gruesome.
02:27 A monumental structure from the Aztec civilization,
02:30 the Huey Zompotli held profound cultural and ritual significance.
02:34 Translating to "great skull rack," it was a platform adorned with impaled skulls
02:38 of sacrificial victims.
02:40 Archaeologists have so far uncovered well over 600 skulls
02:44 that have been working for the past six years to uncover the whole structure
02:48 and to learn more about its construction.
02:51 Constructed in the capital city of Tenochtitlan,
02:54 this macabre display served as a visual testament to the Aztecs' reverence for the god Huitzilopochtli,
02:59 associated with war and the sun.
03:01 The skulls, meticulously arranged in rows, symbolized the Aztec worldview,
03:06 which intertwined life, death, and cosmology.
03:09 The Huey Zompotli reflected the ideological underpinnings of Aztec society,
03:13 illustrating the ritualistic and spiritual dimensions
03:16 embedded in their architectural and artistic expressions
03:19 during the height of their civilization.
03:20 Neanderthals are often depicted as brutish cavemen,
03:36 but science shows that our early ancestors were actually quite advanced.
03:41 This Neanderthal specimen discovered in France in 1908
03:44 dates back approximately 50,000 years.
03:47 The fossilized skull challenges earlier interpretations of Neanderthal anatomy,
03:52 particularly regarding posture.
03:54 Initially perceived as evidence of a stooped or hunched posture,
03:57 later analyses suggested a more upright stance.
04:00 The La Chapelle-aux-Saints find became central to debates
04:03 on Neanderthal cognitive abilities and cultural practices.
04:06 Its cranial features indicated adaptation to cold environments,
04:09 emphasizing the species' resilience.
04:11 The species also developed large brains.
04:14 They were similar in size to modern humans' brains and were often larger.
04:19 The discovery significantly contributed to refining our knowledge
04:23 of Neanderthal morphology, behavior, and adaptations,
04:26 shedding light on the intricacies of evolution during the late Pleistocene.
04:30 Evolution built them to be sturdy to survive their harsh environment.
04:35 But their tools, art, and DNA tell us that their resilience
04:40 also involved innovation, creativity, and social behavior.
04:43 Crystal Skulls
04:46 During the late 19th century, there was a lively trade in fake pre-Columbian artifacts,
04:51 with some even ending up in museums.
04:53 Among these artifacts were the famous crystal skulls,
04:56 supposedly dating back to the Aztec or Maya civilizations.
04:59 The best-known, the Mitchell-Hedges skull,
05:01 was said to have been discovered in a temple in Belize
05:04 but was likely purchased from a London art dealer.
05:07 - Anna Mitchell-Hedges claimed that her skull had magical telepathic powers.
05:12 - She felt that he could stare into the left eye socket and see the future.
05:17 Still, there is some mystery around their actual origins.
05:20 Studies have identified tool marks inconsistent with ancient technologies.
05:24 Scientists believe they were likely crafted in Germany
05:27 in the late 19th century from Brazilian quartz.
05:29 - Using just hand tools, it would have been impossible
05:32 for the ancient Aztecs to create such perfectly straight lines
05:36 as those on the British and Smithsonian skulls.
05:38 The only way these straight lines could have been made
05:43 was by using rotary cutting wheels.
05:45 The Liu Jiang Skull - Homo Sapiens
05:49 This well-preserved fossil, discovered in 1958 in Guangxi, China,
05:54 dates back approximately 68,000 years
05:57 and challenges prevailing models of migration out of Africa,
06:00 suggesting multiple waves of Homo sapiens dispersal.
06:03 It exhibits a unique combination of archaic and modern features.
06:07 Its discovery implies complex interactions
06:09 and potential interbreeding among different groups during the late Pleistocene.
06:13 The Liu Jiang Skull plays a role in unravelling the intricate mosaic
06:16 of evolutionary pathways and adds nuance to our comprehension
06:20 of the diversity and adaptability of Homo sapiens across geographical regions.
06:24 The Caboey Skull - Homo Heidelbergensis
06:29 The Broken Hill Skull, also known as the Caboey Skull,
06:32 was discovered in 1921 in Broken Hill, northern Rhodesia,
06:36 now Caboey, Zambia, and is approximately 300,000 years old.
06:41 This Homo heidelbergensis fossil showcases a mix of archaic and modern human features,
06:46 helping our understanding of evolution during the Middle Pleistocene.
06:50 Its morphology indicates a large brain case,
06:52 suggesting advanced cognitive abilities.
06:55 The Broken Hill find is significant in the study of Homo heidelbergensis,
06:59 bridging the gap between earlier species and humans in the Pleistocene epoch.
07:03 Number 3. The Dremelin Skulls - Paranthropus robustus
07:08 This South African archaeological site has yielded a significant collection of hominid fossils.
07:13 Dremelin was first discovered in 1992 by Dr. André Kaiser,
07:17 and ever since then has amassed a huge collection of fossils.
07:21 The site, dating back around 2 million years,
07:24 has provided insights into hominin evolution.
07:26 Among the notable finds are hominid skulls attributed to Paranthropus robustus and early Homo.
07:32 "An incredibly famous fossil that was found at the site.
07:35 It's a female and it's the most complete cranium or skull
07:40 of any of the Paranthropus robustus ever found in the world."
07:43 The presence of both robust australopithecines and Homo
07:47 suggests coexistence and potential interactions in the region.
07:50 The Dremelin skulls, with their well-preserved features,
07:53 offer crucial anatomical details for studying the evolutionary relationships
07:57 and behaviors of hominins during this critical phase of prehistory.
08:01 "The amazing thing about coming to these sites is ultimately,
08:04 in turning over a little bit of dirt,
08:06 you can completely change our understanding of human evolution."
08:10 Number 2. The Jericho Skulls - Homo sapiens, Natufian culture
08:14 Dating to approximately 9,500 years ago, these were discovered in the Levant
08:20 and represent a noteworthy archaeological assemblage from Natufian culture.
08:24 Adorned with plaster, they offer intricate insights
08:27 into the mortuary practices of the Natufian people.
08:29 "It's a human skull, a real human skull,
08:32 that has had a plaster face added over the top
08:35 and then eyes inlaid with marine shells."
08:38 Their discovery suggests a sophisticated engagement with the dead,
08:42 possibly involving ritualistic or symbolic elements.
08:45 "So this skull, with its plaster face, was found at Jericho
08:49 and he was actually part of a sect of seven people who were all buried together."
08:53 The application of plaster to the skulls indicates deliberate and careful manipulation,
08:58 emphasizing the cultural significance attached to these mortuary practices.
09:02 They shed light on the Natufian culture's social organization,
09:06 funerary customs, and symbolic expressions,
09:08 giving us information on the complexities of societies in the Levant
09:12 during the transition to settled life.
09:14 "So we think of this as being a portrait because the face is modeled on a real person."
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09:33 Number 1. The Manot Cranium (Homo sapiens)
09:38 Found in 2015 within the Manot Cave in the western Galilee region of Israel,
09:43 this ancient skull is estimated to be around 54,000 years old,
09:47 placing it in a critical period of migration and interaction.
09:50 Exhibiting a unique combination of Neanderthal and modern characteristics,
10:00 the Manot Cranium provides valuable insights into the possible interbreeding
10:03 between these distinct hominid groups.
10:05 This intermingling, suggested by the cranium's morphology,
10:09 is part of the complex evolutionary processes that shaped the genetic diversity
10:13 of anatomically modern humans during their migration out of Africa.
10:17 What archaeological discoveries do you find the most historically important?
10:27 Let us know in the comments.
10:29 People love mystery, and they probably as a result,
10:33 greatly prefer things such as the crystal skull to the average archaeological presentation.
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