Archaeologists in Crimea recently made an exciting discovery: they found ancient DNA in a tiny bone that matches Neanderthals from Siberia. This genetic link stretches about 1,900 miles and dates back roughly 45,000 years, showing that Neanderthals weren’t isolated. They traveled far and connected with other groups, suggesting they had a broader social network than we once thought.
Emily M. Pigott, an archaeologist at the University of Vienna, led the research. Her work focuses on ancient biomolecules. The tiny bone, just about two inches long, came from the Starosele rock shelter. Using a method called Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS), the team was able to identify the species from the bone’s collagen, even though it was too small to analyze by eye. Out of 150 fragments examined, only one contained Neanderthal DNA, while the rest were mostly horse bones.
The genetic analysis confirmed that the Neanderthal from Crimea shares a close connection with those in the Altai region of Siberia. Pigott noted, “Genetically, Star 1 is closely related to Neanderthals from the Altai.” This finding indicates that Neanderthals regularly moved across Eurasia rather than remaining confined to specific valleys.
The tools found at Starosele match those of the Micoquian tradition, commonly associated with late Neanderthal culture. This cultural link reinforces the idea that these ancient people were not just wandering; they were likely forming connections and sharing knowledge across vast distances.
To understand how they managed to cross such expansive terrain, the team studied paleoclimate data. They found that historical climate changes created grassland corridors between eastern Europe and central Asia, making travel easier. These corridors, active during warmer periods, allowed hunters to follow migrating herds of horses and bison.
Neanderthals were adaptable. They modified their hunting strategies and living arrangements to thrive in changing environments. When climates cooled, they moved to open steppe areas filled with large herbivores. During warmer periods, they shifted to forested zones for resources. This adaptability suggests they were skilled at sharing knowledge and maintaining social ties, evident from the wide spread of the Micoquian tool toolkit.
Interestingly, this discovery comes at a crucial time in history. Between 45,000 and 30,000 years ago, modern humans began spreading throughout Europe, which likely affected Neanderthal populations. A study from 2014 showed that the decline of Neanderthals happened at different rates in various regions. The findings from Starosele fill in a geographic gap, indicating that some Neanderthals were still interconnected even as their numbers dwindled.
Today, many people carry traces of Neanderthal DNA, a reminder of those ancient interactions. This study not only sheds light on our past but also illustrates how modern technology like ZooMS can help reveal hidden stories in archaeology. These methods can target rare human remains among mixed fragments, making research more efficient and insightful.
The research is detailed in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. With every discovery, we learn more about how ancient humans navigated their world, revealing a complex tapestry of survival, migration, and connection.
For further reading, you can check out the original study here.
