Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding the Lapedo child, a skeleton unearthed in Portugal over 20 years ago. This remarkable find, dating back less than 30,000 years, represents the potential intermingling of Neanderthals and early humans, providing insights into their social interactions.
The Lapedo child, discovered in 1998, quickly gained attention due to its unique mix of Neanderthal and human traits. This sparked debates among researchers about whether it was indeed a hybrid. Interestingly, the child lived long after Neanderthals had disappeared, suggesting that some Neanderthal genes may have persisted in our ancestors.
While the Lapedo child’s bones do not directly provide DNA evidence of hybrid ancestry, their distinctive features and age point to the possibility of such links. Bethan Linscott from the University of Oxford emphasized the importance of this discovery, stating it feels like giving the child back a piece of its story.
Dating the skeleton has been a challenge. Previous attempts failed due to damage and contamination. However, advancements in technology allowed a team to measure the radiocarbon decay in the skeleton’s collagen. This led to the conclusion that the Lapedo child lived between 27,780 and 28,550 years ago, providing a clearer timeline for its existence.
Neanderthals went extinct roughly 40,000 years ago, which makes the Lapedo child’s age significant. Some bones buried alongside the child, like a red deer pelvis, were much older, suggesting a different burial context than previously thought. Additionally, charcoal found at the site dated back at least 150 years prior to the child, changing interpretations of burial practices.
The Lapedo child has often been viewed as the first known hybrid of its kind, but it certainly wasn’t alone in history. In 2012, a similar find in Russia revealed another hybrid, known as Denny, who had a Neanderthal mother and a Denisovan father. Genetic testing has shown that modern humans carry Neanderthal genes, with some individuals having up to 4% of their DNA traced back to Neanderthals.
The budding field of ancient DNA research holds the promise of uncovering even more secrets about our ancestors. If future techniques allow for DNA recovery from the Lapedo child, we might gain deeper insights into human evolution and migration.
This study, published in Science Advances, highlights the complexities of our heritage and the close ties between ancient peoples. Understanding these connections can reshape how we view human history and identity today. For more information, you can read the study here.
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