Brain tumour found in 365,000-year-old skull

Scientists have discovered rare evidence of a brain tumour in a fossilised skull dating back to the Stone Age, a German university said today.

Based on measurements of the 365,000-year-old early human skull excavated at Steinheim an der Murr in south-western Germany, three scientists concluded it is a rare example of a meningioma tumour, the University of Tuebingen said.

The scientists inspected the skull by macroscopy, endoscopy, three-dimensional CT scan and radiography and found a lump-sized formation in the bone that they say supports their theory.

Because skulls of Stone Age people were smaller than human skulls today, the researchers believe the person may have suffered chronic severe headaches and partial paralysis, and likely died from the tumour.