S khul Cave is located on the slope of Mount Carmel in Israel, near the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. The fossilized remains of more than ten individuals were recovered from this cave in 1932. The original fossils of six individuals (II, III, V, VI, VII, and VIII) from Skhul Cave are in the collections of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. Of the fossilized remains found in Skhul Cave, an adult male, called Skhul V, has been the most intensively studied. Skhul V is among the most significant fossils for the study of human evolution. Currently dated between 80,000 and 100,000 years before present, this fossil represents one of the oldest known, nearly complete member of our species, Homo sapiens, that is largely modern in form. That is, it reveals features that are very similar to those of people living today. Because fossils from both Neanderthals and Homo sapiens have been found in the caves on Mt. Carmel, much effort has been expended to date these fossils accurately. The early date of Skhul V indicates early modern humans were present in the Levant before Neanderthals, a significant departure from earlier models of human evolution. Neanderthals are found in the region between approximately 75-45 thousand years ago. Modern humans then reoccupied the area after 45 thousand years ago.
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