Scientifically known as Homo sapiens Neanderthalensis, the Krapina prehistoric man was discovered all the way back in 1899, by professor Dragutin Gorjanović-Kramberger, a well-known Croatian geologist, palaeontologist and paleoanthropologist. The richest collection of Neanderthal man in the world was gathered at Hušnjakovo Hill in Krapina. The collection comprises around 900 fossil bones belonging to about 80 Neanderthal individuals of different gender, between 2 to 27 years of age. Besides fossil bones of Neanderthal people, 2,400 remains of different animals was collected and 1,200 various artifacts made and used for different purposes by Neanderthals were also found at Hušnjakovo site, testifying to their material culture- first material culture in Europe!

Digging sand at Hušnjakovo Hill for building purposes, the citizens of Krapina, 121 years ago, were the first to discover some bones in the layers of sandstone, bones that seemed strange and extraordinary to them. Few yeras later professor Dragutin Gorjanović-Kramberger collected the richest collection of Neanderthal Man in the world. He also collected 2,400 remains of different animals were found, such as rhinoceros, cave bear, prehistoric ox, buffalo, giant deer, elk, beaver, leopard, grey wolf ect. Together with remains of big mammals and smaller animals, the collection also contains remains of birds and various kinds of inland snails and river shells. There is no single complete skeleton in the collection, but different parts of skeletons have been preserved, very fragile and fragmented. The most complete and famous finding is the skull C or Krapina 3, which belonged to a 20-year old Neanderthal woman. Osteological analysis has revealed some changes on the frontal bones of this skull, some regular cuts inflicted on purpose. All in all, 42 cut marks were inflicted immediately after the woman had passed away, so they could be interpreted as traces of burial rituals, i.e. symbolic behaviour of Neanderthals. Around 1,200 various artifacts made and used for different purposes by Neanderthals were found at Hušnjak site, testifying to their material culture. Recloirs, graters, spear points, axes and other tools belong to Mousterian culture which defines Middle Paleolithic and which was called after an eponymic site, La Moustier in France. It is characterized by an outstanding presence of various flint flakes made by employing Levallois technique –prepared-core technique. It is estimated that the site is 125,000 years old. Hušnjakovo prehistoric site was classified protected nature monument on 22 November 1948 and in 1961 it was proclaimed the first paleontological nature monument in Croatia. The idea of building a new museum building was achieved in 2010 when a new Krapina Neanderthal Museum was opened, today one of the most modern and frequently visited museums in Croatia. Multidisciplinary and interactive approach are distinguishing features of the museum exhibition representing a time machine, a journey from the most distant past of the Earth to modern times, with a special emphasis on the evolution of man and the significance of the discovery of Krapina early man. The museum exhibition is divided into 18 thematic units telling the intricate story of the development of life on Earth and the evolution of man taking advantage of numerous exhibits, visual interpretation, multimedia installations and effects. Throughout the year, numerous Museum visitors are also offered various happenings and events like temporary exhibitions, presentations and concerts. The majority of visitors being kids, educational workshops and playgroups are organized, enabling them to learn through their own experience, research and creative work.

Because of its worldwide importance but also of European importance, Site Hušnjakovo and Krapina Neanderthal Museum were awarded the European Heritage Label, a recognition of their importance and extraordinary value of this site. Neanderthals were the first large population of our continent that left no harm behind. They left us the first and oldest material culture in Europe, 125.000 years old, but also much evidence of intangible culture and ritual behavior which we inherited. Burying the dead, making musical instruments are in favor of this but current scientific insights and latest discoveries lead to the conclusion that Neanderthals had far more complex cognitive abilities than previously considered. Traces of some ceremonies and posthumous rituals witness to their ability of simbolic patterns of thinking, proved further by the latest research works on the Krapina collection with the discovery of some jewellery made by Krapina Neanderthals. This discovery, the oldest jewelry in the world, proving that Neanderthals could have possesed already aesthetic sense 125.000 years ago, disapproved the notion held until recently, namely that these patterns of thinking and behaving were exclusively the domain of Homo sapiens, anatomically the modern man. Krapina Neanderthal Museum and Hušnjakovo Site, attracting around 95.000 visitors a year from all over the world, and is an important part of cultural identity and a tourist attraction of the town of Krapina, and as such it cooperates with the local community, its institutions, associations and individuals. For such an important European locality can truly be said that Europe really starts in Krapina!