Today we finished excavating one complete skeleton, that of an adult male, arranged in the matrix as if he fell dead on the spot. The cause of death was apparent when we examined the skull, where we found the thick occipital bone shattered by blunt trauma. This presumed murder victim had no associated burial trappings or personal kit, but we found an unusual object near his long-dead hand.

Looking at this item, I find it wonderful that it is a bona fide Neanderthal artifact. It can only be a globular meteorite fragment, and to my eye, it's a near-perfect sphere of roughly three centimetres diameter. The surface textures and colouring tantalise me with the idea, that what I have in my hand, is a tiny nickel-iron globe of the moon. I notice that the modern-day moon is presently waxing full...perhaps I shall engage in a visual comparison tonight.

I have held it in my hand, or kept it in my pocket, ever since Jemi handed it up to me from the pit this morning. She had offered it up, ceremoniously, as she would a reward for my successful find.

I always like the feel of these little things, they give me such a sense of connection with my beloved Neanderthals; and the crew always allow me to claim them for myself for the first day, as a juju or good-luck piece. Indeed, I appreciate their gesture and its sentiment, for I am enjoying a continuing lucky streak with my discoveries of H. Neanderthalensis grave sites across Europe.