Service Régional du Limousin

The bouffia Bonneval at La Chapelle-aux-Saints is well known for
the discovery of the first secure Neandertal burial in the early 20th
century. However, the intentionality of the burial remains an issue
of some debate. Here, we present the results of a 12-y fieldwork
project, along with a taphonomic analysis of the human remains,
designed to assess the funerary context of the La Chapelle-aux-
Saints Neandertal. We have established the anthropogenic nature
of the burial pit and underlined the taphonomic evidence of
a rapid burial of the body. These multiple lines of evidence support
the hypothesis of an intentional burial. Finally, the discovery of
skeletal elements belonging to the original La Chapelle aux Saints
1 individual, two additional young individuals, and a second adult
in the bouffia Bonneval highlights a more complex site-formation
history than previously proposed.

The bouffia Bonneval at La Chapelle-aux-Saints is well known for the discovery of the first secure Neandertal burial in the early 20th century. However, the intentionality of the burial remains an issue of some debate. Here, we present the results of a 12-y fieldwork project, along with a taphonomic analysis of the human remains, designed to assess the funerary context of the La Chapelle-aux-Saints Neandertal. We have established the anthropogenic nature of the burial pit and underlined the taphonomic evidence of a rapid burial of the body. These multiple lines of evidence support the hypothesis of an intentional burial. Finally, the discovery of skeletal elements belonging to the original La Chapelle aux Saints 1 individual, two additional young individuals, and a second adult in the bouffia Bonneval highlights a more complex site-formation history than previously proposed.