Following a spiraling ramp winding up over the four floors of the Neanderthal Museum the visitor learns the story of the discovery of the Neanderthal man, the famous fossil skeleton and proceeds to explore the history of human evolution that unravels in five thematic areas.
Fossil Skeleton of the Neanderthal
Unearthed in a cave of the Neander valley, near Dusseldorf in 1856 by quarry workmen, the fossil skeleton – a mere 16 bones – was a groundbreaking and famously controversial discovery, all the more so as three years later Charles Darwin published his Origin of Species. The debate between J.C. Fuhlrott, the first to examine the Neanderthal, and the scholar R. Virchow raged for the decades.
However, the site was forgotten and Fuhlrott left no records of its exact position. During a 1997-2000 dig, the historic landmark was rediscovered together with human and animal bones and tools dating back to more 25,000 years ago. A Neanderthal man and a fossil skeleton of a Neanderthal woman were discovered as well as the remains of child.
A Story of Human Evolution in the Neanderthal Museum
The story of the fossil skeleton and its rediscovery is told in the Neanderthal museum's first section, "A Valley and its Secrets". Following the spiralling ramp, there are different sections to be explored:
- A Journey Through Time: An introduction to the stages of human creation. Displayed here are wax models of early men and women, such as Homo sapiens neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens sapiens; visual material detailing the life and spacial distribution of the first humans.
Evolution of Humankind is the next section divided in five thematic areas:
- Life and Survival: An illustration of the human biological evolution from Australopithicus, the first upright walking individual 4 million years ago, to the modern human.
- Tools and Knowledge: exhibits detailing the chain of technological innovations.
- Myth and Religion: The human quest to make meaning of the world is explored in this section with exhibits of Neanderthal and Neolithic burials and ice age artwork.
- Environment and Nourishment: Exhibits illustrating how human diet and as a result human teeth have changed through time.
- Communication and Society stresses the connection between language and human evolution exploring the links between brain development and social interactions.
There are many hands-on and visually interesting exhibits for children from the reconstruction of the Neanderthal man and the display of the fossil skeleton to wax models of early humans to an impressive sand clock.
Discovery Site at the Neanderthal Museum
The family day out can continue with the Discovery Site. The historic location where the famous fossil skeleton was found was rediscovered in 1997 and has since been developed into an archaeological garden which gives an account of the history of the Neander valley through time.
There are structures like stone crosses, a time axis and alignment stakes and two botanical areas displaying ice age vegetation. Audio guides are available to visitors wishing to follow the Discovery Trail. Guided tours for children and for families are also available.
Address
Talstrasse 300, D-40822 Mettmann, Germany
Opening Hours
Tue-Sun 10am-6pm or 10am-4pm (Nov. 1 to Feb.28), Mondays Closed
Admission
Adults 7 Euros; Kids 6-16 4 Euros; Concessions 6.50 Euros; Family Ticket 20 Euros
For more information go to Neanderthal Museum website
On a recent discovery of a Neanderthal fossil, see the BBC website. Read about what the Neanderthals ate in Neanderthal Diet or Cavemen Eating Habits: Were the Neanderthals Meat Eaters?
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