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Homo Sapiens Neanderthalensis

In 1985 the PTT of Yugoslavia issued a set of four stamps on which the following fossil remnants are presented: Aturia aturi, Pachyophis woodwardi, Chaetodon hoeferi and Homo sapiens neanderthalensis. This last stamp is interesting also for the speleophilatelists since Neanderthal man used caves as a residence.

Cancellation showing a Neanderthal skull found in Krapina (Croatia) in 1969

The remains of Neanderthal man in Yugoslavia were first discovered in 1899 in a semi cave on the Husnjako brdo (=hill) in Krapina (northwest part of Croatia) by Dragutin Gorjanovi6-Kramberger who was a discoverer and the first explorer of this archeological find.

In addition to the find of Neanderthal man in Krapina, in northwest Croatia, the following two finds are known in the caves Velika pećina (=cave) on Ravna gora and the Vindija Cave near Donja Voća village. Homo sapiens sapiens was found in the Veternica Cave near Zagreb.