Final answer:
The Lagar Velho fossil, also known as the Lapedo child, is significant for showing a mix of Neanderthal and modern human features, indicating interbreeding and a complex evolution pattern.
Step-by-step explanation:
The significance of the Lagar Velho fossil lies in its contribution to our understanding of human prehistory and paleoanthropology. This particular fossil combines both Neanderthal and modern human features. The discovery has sparked discussions about the interbreeding between Neanderthals and early modern humans in Europe, suggesting these species did not exist completely separate from one another. Dating back to approximately 24,000 years ago, the Lagar Velho child, also known as the Lapedo child, offers evidence for a complex pattern of human evolution that includes elements of both anatomical modernity and archaic traits.