New Evidence Suggests Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens Interbred 100,000 Years Earlier Than Previously Believed

In a rocky area of Mount Carmel in Israel, ancient humans buried their dead about 140,000 years ago. This site, called Skhul Cave, was discovered in 1928, revealing over a dozen skeletons.

These remains are among the oldest known examples of burial practices, but they have raised questions for researchers. Some features suggest they belonged to Homo sapiens, while others are similar to Neanderthals. This mix makes it hard to classify them.

One notable finding is the skeleton of a child, likely a girl aged between three and five. Advanced scans of her skull show characteristics of both species. This suggests interbreeding between Neanderthals and modern humans may have happened much earlier than previously thought—up to 100,000 years earlier, according to Dr. Israel Hershkovitz from Tel Aviv University.

Such findings reveal that modern humans and Neanderthals coexisted for a more extended period than many believe. “It’s not just a short overlap, but a lengthy coexistence,” Hershkovitz explains. He emphasizes that these two species found ways to share the same environment rather than compete.

Notably, this research aligns with past genetic studies indicating interbreeding occurred about 50,000 to 43,500 years ago. The new evidence suggests that those interactions may have been happening much earlier.

While these insights are compelling, experts urge caution. William Harcourt-Smith from the American Museum of Natural History notes that physical traits can change due to many factors. The young age of the child could also influence how we interpret these findings.

Dr. Zeresenay Alemseged from the University of Chicago highlights that some characteristics might not indicate hybridization but rather ancestral traits. However, he agrees that the idea of a mixed ancestry still holds merit, especially with DNA confirming historical overlaps.

Interestingly, the Skhul site gives scientists more than just a glimpse into genetics. The manner in which the people buried their dead suggests they already had a sense of territory and social structure. This implies more developed cultural practices existed long before agriculture became common.

Dr. Hershkovitz argues that these findings should prompt a deeper look at how we understand early human behavior. It opens the door to reevaluate our assumptions about humans’ social lives during this pivotal period in history.

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