Leanderthal Lady
Leander, Williamson County, Texas
Marker Inscription
On Dec. 29, 1982, Texas Highway Department archeologists uncovered the skeleton of a pre-historic human female at the Wilson-Leonard Brushy Creek Site (approx. 6 mi. SE). Because of the proximity of the grave site to the town of Leander, the skeleton became known as the Leanderthal Lady. Carbon testing indicates the woman lived 10-13,000 years ago. She was about 30 years old at the time of death and measured 5' 3" in height. As one of the earliest intact burials uncovered in the United States, the site is a valuable source of information on the nation's prehistoric past.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In December 1982, highway archeologists near Leander uncovered the skeleton of a woman who lived roughly 10,000 to 13,000 years ago, quickly nicknamed the "Leanderthal Lady." About 30 years old and 5-foot-3, she was found in an intact grave at the Wilson-Leonard site, one of the earliest such burials known in the United States. Her remains opened a rare window onto the peopling of North America.
Why it matters
The burial is among the oldest and most complete in the country, offering scientists direct evidence of the Paleoindians who inhabited Texas at the end of the last Ice Age.
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Related events
- · Wilson-Leonard site excavation (1982)
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
Webster Massacre
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