Stiftung Urmensch von Mauer

The Urmensch von Mauer Foundation is a non-profit, non-independent foundation under the fiduciary administration of DGS Deutsche Gesellschaft für Stiftungsförderung mbH. Initiated by Dr. Cornelia Sussieck, it supports the establishment of a museum for the world's oldest lower jaw of Homo heidelbergensis from Mauer and makes this fossil, over 600,000 years old, permanently accessible to the public. Furthermore, the foundation supports research on human evolution and annually awards the Otto Schoetensack Prize to high school graduates in biology in the Rhein-Neckar district.

"Future needs origins!" – The Urmensch von Mauer Foundation aims to sustainably promote the research and communication of human history. Through project funding, collaborations, and endowments, it seeks to inspire educational institutions, the general public, and emerging scientists, as well as to establish a representative site for the presentation of early humans in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region.

The foundation is aimed at individuals interested in the natural sciences, particularly students of general education grammar schools in the Rhein-Neckar district who are engaged in biology, paleontology, and human evolution. Furthermore, it addresses the general public in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region, early-career scientists, as well as potential sponsors, partners, and visitors of a future Early Human Museum.