Scientists have recreated the appearance of a Cro-Magnon, whose face is covered with tumors

Scientists have recreated the face of a Cro-Magnon who lived 28 thousand years ago. It is covered with growths and tumors — according to researchers, our ancestor suffered from a genetic disease — neurofibromatosis. The Cro-Magnon skeleton was discovered in 1868 in the Cro-Magnon cave in western France. The cave gave its name to all the people of the Upper Paleolithic era — Cro-Magnons.

In honor of the 150th anniversary of the discovery, a group of scientists with anthropologist Philippe Charlier examined the remains again and made a statement: "We made a new diagnosis — the man suffered from neurofibromatosis."

Cro-Magnon's skull has "damage on the forehead, which corresponds to the presence of neurofibroma (benign tumor of the nerve sheath)", which destroyed the bone. Philippe Charlier said that the auditory canal of the left ear was also damaged due to a tumor.

Source: The Lancet

Armed with new data, scientists have created a realistic reconstruction of the face of a middle-aged man, taking into account his pathology. In addition to the tumor on his forehead, you can notice growths all over his face, around his mouth, nose and eyes: "He had them everywhere."

The remains of five more prehistoric people were found in the cave. One skeleton belonged to an infant, the rest to adults over 50 years old. Cro-Magnons had powerful and muscular bodies, their height reached 166-171 centimeters. The foreheads were straight, with small eyebrows, the faces were short and wide. Cro-Magnons were also the first people with prominent chins.

This is what the previous version of the facial reconstruction looked like.