For Immediate Release October 21, 1999 Contact: Greg Borzo (312) 665-7106 gborzo@fieldmuseum.org “There had always been some tension between the young age suggested by the state of dental development and the much older age suggested by a number of developmental and degenerative changes in the rest of the skeleton,” Pestle said. Other tests currently underway include an analysis of tooth structures to confirm the age-at-death; computed tomography (CT) scans to study pathologies and the structure of the bones; stable isotope analysis to reconstruct the prehistoric diet; and DNA analysis. The skeleton of the Magdalenian Girl, which is the most complete Upper Paleolithic skeleton available for study in North America, was discovered in 1911 near Laussel in southwestern France. The skeleton was found in the Cap Blanc rock shelter, famous for its magnificent decorative stone frieze of sculpted horses, bison and deer that is still visited by tourists today. Several years ago, The Field Museum created a cast of the skeleton for exhibition at Cap Blanc in France. The original skeleton will be placed on permanent display as part of Evolving Planet, The Field Museum’s stunning new permanent exhibit depicting the story of life on Earth. The exhibit opens to the public on March 10. For the first time, Magdalenian Girl’s skeletal remains will be exhibit in the “fetal” position in which the specimen was discovered almost 100 years ago. Martin, Pestle and other scientists will be on hand at the media preview of Evolving Planet on March 7 (see the information below for details) to discuss the new research findings relating to Magdalenian Girl, as well as other significant scientific news, such as the first exhibition of recently described dinosaur species. When Henry Field, then curator of Physical Anthropology at The Field Museum, acquired Magdalenian Girl in 1926, it was hailed as one of the most significant acquisitions the museum ever made. On the first day the precious specimen was exhibited, tens of thousands of visitors flocked to the museum to see it. Magdalenian Girl, also known as the Cap Blanc skeleton, continues to reveal significant information about our early human relatives – and she may not be done yet. “Magdalenian Girl has once again proven the value of museum collections, which often contain unexpected secrets that are only revealed as new methods and techniques emerge,” Pestle said. Digital images available: Earliest known impacted wisdom tooth Digital radiograph (X-ray) of the mandible of Magdalenian Girl showing impaction of the right lower third molar (wisdom tooth). New high-quality radiographic imaging of the entire Magdalenian Girl skeleton, which is 13,000 to 15,000 years old, has made reanalysis of this skeleton possible. Photo courtesy of The Field Museum Magdalenian Girl In-situ view of Magdalenian Girl, as she was discovered in 1911 near Laussel in southwestern France. The skeleton was found in the Cap Blanc rock shelter, famous for its magnificent decorative stone frieze of sculpted horses, bison and deer that is still visited by tourists today. Photo courtesy of The Field Museum Cast Several years ago, The Field Museum created a cast of the Magdalenian Girl skeleton for exhibition at Cap Blanc in southwestern France, where the specimen was discovered almost 100 years ago. Here, a Field Museum staff member coats bones of the original skeleton to prepare them for molding and casting. Field Museum photo GN90136_2c by John Weinstein, Courtesy of The Field Museum <<Back to the Press Room