The southeast area of the Eifel region is a veritable treasure trove for archeologists. In 1997, Axel von Berg found the cranium of a Neanderthal along with three stone artefacts from the 'Wannerköpfe' volcano in 1997. The cranium belonged to an adult man (some 35 – 40 years old) and had been broken into three pieces due to the pressure of the Earth, but these were seamlessly put back together.

Dated at some 160,000 to 170,000 years old, the man belonged to the early Neanderthals. Especially interesting is the closeness of the bones to those of homo erectus because around the edge there appear to be traces of human handling. It can be guessed that they were adapted and used as tools or bowls. The cranium was quickly covered by sediment and has therefore been well preserved.