Pit Of Bones Collection

Sima de los Huesos fossils C015 / 6587
Sima de los Huesos fossils. Researchers with a display of fossil bones of Homo heidelbergensis from the Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones) site, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain

Stone tool, Sima de los Huesos. This hand axe, called Excalibur, is the only stone tool to be found at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones)

Extraction of fossil DNA C018 / 5398
Extraction of fossil DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Technician drilling material from the fossilised bone of a cave bear (Ursus deningeri) found at the Sima de los Huesos site, Sierra de Atapuerca

Extraction of fossil DNA C018 / 5400
Extraction of fossil DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Material drilled from a fossilised Homo heidelbergensis femur (thigh) bone (femur 13) found at the Sima de los Huesos site, Sierra de Atapuerca

Excavations at Sima de los Huesos, Spain C018 / 5726
Excavations at Sima de los Huesos. Prof. Juan Luis Arsuaga at the Sima de los Huesos site, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain. Mitochondrial DNA from a Homo heidelbergensis femur (thigh) bone (femur 13)

Homo heidelbergensis thigh bone C018 / 6378
Homo heidelbergensis thigh bone. This is femur 13 found at the Sima de los Huesos site, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain. The mitochondrial DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

Extraction of fossil DNA C018 / 5399
Extraction of fossil DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Technician drilling material from a fossilised Homo heidelbergensis femur (thigh) bone (femur 13) found at the Sima de los Huesos site

Extraction of fossil DNA C018 / 5402
Extraction of fossil DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Sample of material drilled from a fossilised Homo heidelbergensis femur (thigh) bone (femur 13) found at the Sima de los Huesos site

Extraction of fossil DNA C018 / 5405
Extraction of fossil DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Fossilised bones from a cave bear (Ursus deningeri) found at the Sima de los Huesos site, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain

Extraction of fossil DNA C018 / 5410
Extraction of fossil DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Prof. Juan Luis Arsuaga in the laboratory where mitochondrial DNA from fossilised Homo heidelbergensis bone was extracted and sequenced

Excavations at Sima de los Huesos, Spain C018 / 5727
Excavations at Sima de los Huesos. Prof. Juan Luis Arsuaga examining fossils at the Sima de los Huesos site, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain

Extraction of fossil DNA C018 / 5728
Extraction of fossil DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Prof. Juan Luis Arsuaga (left) and his team with fossilised Homo heidelbergensis bones found at the Sima de los Huesos site, Sierra de Atapuerca

Extraction of fossil DNA C018 / 6377
Extraction of fossil DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Sample of material drilled from a fossilised Homo heidelbergensis femur (thigh) bone (femur 13) found at the Sima de los Huesos site

Excavations at Sima de los Huesos, Spain C018 / 5408
Excavations at Sima de los Huesos. Archaeologists working at the Sima de los Huesos site, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain. Mitochondrial DNA from a Homo heidelbergensis femur (thigh) bone (femur 13)

Extraction of fossil DNA C018 / 5404
Extraction of fossil DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Technicians extracting material from the fossilised bone of a cave bear (Ursus deningeri) found at the Sima de los Huesos site, Sierra de Atapuerca

Extraction of fossil DNA C018 / 5403
Extraction of fossil DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Technician drilling material from the fossilised bone of a cave bear (Ursus deningeri) found at the Sima de los Huesos site, Sierra de Atapuerca

Extraction of fossil DNA C018 / 5401
Extraction of fossil DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Material drilled from a fossilised Homo heidelbergensis femur (thigh) bone (femur 13) found at the Sima de los Huesos site, Sierra de Atapuerca

Excavations at Sima de los Huesos, Spain C018 / 5409
Excavations at Sima de los Huesos. Archaeologists working at the Sima de los Huesos site, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain. Mitochondrial DNA from a Homo heidelbergensis femur (thigh) bone (femur 13)

Prehistoric bear eating human bones C013 / 9584
Prehistoric bear eating human bones. Artwork of a now-extinct Ursus deningeri bear earing the remains of humans in the Sima de los Huesos (pit of bones), in the caves of the Sierra de Atapuerca

Prehistoric death ritual, artwork C013 / 9573
Prehistoric death ritual. Artwork showing Homo heidelbergensis hominids throwing one of their dead into the Sima de los Huesos (pit of bones), in the caves of the Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain

Prehistoric death ritual, artwork C013 / 9578
Prehistoric death ritual. Artwork showing Homo heidelbergensis hominids throwing one of their dead into the Sima de los Huesos (pit of bones), in the caves of the Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain

Homo heidelbergensis reconstruction. Reconstruction of a Homo heidelbergensis head from skull 5 (Miguelon) found at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones)

Bear tooth, Sima de los Huesos. Tooth from the now extinct Deningeris bear (Ursus deningeri) found next to human fossils at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones)

Skull 5, Sima de los Huesos. In 1992, the team working with Professor Juan Luis Arsuaga found skull 5 (Miguelon) at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones), the best preserved skull known world-wide

Fossilised remains, Sima de los Huesos. Reconstructed Homo hiedelbergensis skeleton. This skeleton has been made up from human fossils found at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones)

Bear skull, Sima de los Huesos. Skull of the now extinct Deningeris bear (Ursus deningeri) found next to human fossils at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones)

Fossilised skulls, Sima de los Huesos. These human skulls are amongst many hundreds of pieces of human fossils found at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones)

Bear jaw, Sima de los Huesos. Lower jaw (mandible) of the now extinct Deningeris bear (Ursus deningeri) found next to human fossils at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones)

Fossilised teeth, Sima de los Huesos. These teeth were found at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones) and are the most found for any human species, world-wide

Human fossils, Sima de los Huesos. These human fossils are a selection of the hundreds of pieces found at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones)

Skull 4, Sima de los Huesos. In 1992, the team working with Professor Juan Luis Arsuaga found skull 4 (Agamenon) at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones), the first intact skull found at the site

Fossilised pelvis, Sima de los Huesos. This male Homo heidelbergensis pelvis, nicknamed Elvis, is the only known intact pelvis dating back 400, 000 years

Base of skull 5, Sima de los Huesos. In 1992, the team working with Professor Juan Luis Arsuaga found skull 5 (Miguelon) at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones)

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"Unveiling the Secrets of the Pit of Bones: A Glimpse into our Ancient Past" Deep within the earth, a treasure trove of knowledge lies hidden in the darkness. The pit of bones, located at Sima de los Huesos in Spain, has become an archaeological marvel that continues to captivate scientists and enthusiasts alike. The excavation efforts at this site have yielded remarkable discoveries, shedding light on our ancestors from thousands of years ago. Amongst these findings are fossils with invaluable genetic material - fossil DNA extracted from Homo heidelbergensis thigh bone specimens. With each extraction (C018 / 5398, C018 / 5400, C018 / 5399), a window into their ancient world opens wider. These fragments hold clues to unraveling mysteries surrounding human evolution and migration patterns. The meticulous excavations conducted at Sima de los Huesos (C018 / 5726, C018 / 5727) have unearthed not only bones but also precious genetic information (C018 / 6377). Scientists meticulously extract fossil DNA (C018 / 5402, C018/5410) from these remains with great care and precision. As we delve deeper into this scientific endeavor, we begin to piece together the puzzle of our past. The Homo heidelbergensis thigh bone specimen (C018/6378) stands as a testament to our shared ancestry with these early humans who once roamed the Earth. Through advanced techniques and tireless dedication, researchers continue their quest for knowledge about our ancient origins. Each extraction brings us closer to understanding how Homo heidelbergensis lived and interacted within their environment. The significance of this ongoing research cannot be overstated; it allows us to connect with those who came before us on an intimate level, and is through studying their genetic makeup that we gain insight into what makes us uniquely human today.