In 2015, a fascinating discovery was made by a team led by paleoanthropologist Ludovic Slimak in a cave called Grotte Mandrin, located in the Rhône Valley, France. After nearly two decades of searching, they found a piece of a jawbone belonging to a Neanderthal who lived approximately 42,000 years ago. This jawbone was just the beginning, as efforts over the years led to more findings, including teeth and bone fragments.
Slimak named this Neanderthal “Thorin” after a character in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. He felt a connection between Thorin, the last dwarf king, and this unique Neanderthal, who represents the end of a lineage that had remained isolated from other groups of humans and Neanderthals.
What makes Thorin’s story compelling is the isolation of his lineage. While nearby Neanderthals and early humans were evolving, Thorin’s group remained genetically distinct. Initial studies of the stone tools found at the site suggested this group had a different culture and way of life compared to those living just a few weeks’ walk away. Slimak had long hypothesized that Neanderthals in the Rhône Valley were unique, and the findings confirmed his theories.
Further analysis of Thorin’s genome revealed intriguing details. According to recent research published in Cell Genomics, this Neanderthal’s lineage had been isolated for over 50,000 years. The genetic data showed high levels of homozygosity, indicating significant inbreeding. Perhaps even more intriguing is that there was no evidence of interbreeding with modern humans during that time.
Slimak believes this discovery challenges our understanding of human history. “Everything must be rewritten about the greatest extinction in humanity,” he stated. The fact that a group lived in seclusion so close to others raises questions about how societies interacted and evolved.
This research sheds light on the complexities of human ancestry, enriching our knowledge of human evolution. As archaeologists and geneticists continue to study these ancient remains, they uncover the deep roots of humanity, revealing how diverse and varied our past truly was.
For those interested in the study of ancient humans, keeping an eye on this ongoing research is essential. The insights about Thorin can reshape how we think about Neanderthals and their relationship to modern humans. This is just one piece of a much larger puzzle in understanding where we came from and how our history has been shaped over millennia.
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