[kroh-mag-nuh
n, -non, -man-yuhn] 
| 1. | an Upper Paleolithic population of humans, regarded as the prototype of modern Homo sapiens in Europe. Skeletal remains found in an Aurignacian cave in southern France indicate that the Cro-Magnon had long heads, broad faces, and sunken eyes, and reached a height of approximately 5 ft. 9 in. (175 cm). |
| 2. | a member of the Cro-Magnon population. |
| Cro-Mag·non (krō-māg'nən, -mān'yən) n. An early form of modern human (Homo sapiens) inhabiting Europe in the late Paleolithic Period and characterized by a broad face and tall stature. It is known from skeletal remains first found in the Cro-Magnon cave in southern France. Cro-Mag'non adj. |
The earliest form of modern humans. The Cro-Magnons developed about 35,000 years ago and physically resembled modern Europeans. (See Homo sapiens.)
Note: Cro-Magnon people painted the walls of their caves, producing some of the earliest known human art.
