But the completeness of the material, and the precision with which the fragments had been documented in situ, made the Shanidar Z reconstruction one of the more reliable attempts of its kind.

What emerged was a cranium showing the defining features of Neanderthal morphology: a pronounced supraorbital torus (brow ridge) over the eye sockets, a retreating forehead, large nasal opening, and the midface projection that distinguishes Neanderthal crania from anatomically modern human ones.

It also revealed who she was — at least in basic biological terms.

Sex and Age: What the Skull Could Tell

Determining the sex and approximate age of an individual from skeletal remains is a standard part of osteological analysis, but it requires enough material to work with, and it produces estimates rather than certainties — especially for ancient remains where preservation is variable.