Leanne the Leanderthal Lady

On December 29, 1982, the remains of a young woman were found near Leander, Texas. She would be the most complete and one of the oldest remains found in North America. It was found that she had died over 10,000 years before and was given the name Leanne. She was a Paleo-Indian woman between 18 to 30 years old and only stood 5'3" tall. It's unknown how she died. She may have died in 9,000 B.C.

Around 10,000 to 13,000 years ago near a small stream, Leanne was laid to rest in a shallow grave. The person who dug her grave in an oval shape in hard compacted soil perhaps using a sharp stick. Leanne would be laid on her side in a fetal position with her knees drawn up, arms crossed, and the right hand beneath her head. Next to her side was a heavily worn sandstone tool, a hand stone or mano, that was used for grinding food and chopping. A fossiled shark tooth was found in the neck area and it's possible it was worn as a necklace. They would then place a limestone slab over the burial. They may have done it to secure a hide around the body or mark the grave.

SOURCES:
Texas Beyond History

Williams County Texas History

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