New evidence of interbreeding between Neanderthals and modern humans

An international team of researchers has identified the earliest evidence of interbreeding between Neanderthals and modern humans in the remains of a 140,000-year-old child in Israel.

An international team of researchers has identified the world's earliest evidence of interbreeding between Neanderthals and modern humans in the remains of a 140,000-year-old child discovered in Israel's Skhul Cave. Photo: Ancient origins.

Specifically, in a new study published in the journal l'Anthropologie, experts announced the first physical evidence showing that Neanderthals and modern humans (Homo sapiens) mated 100,000 years earlier than previously recorded. Photo: Israel Hershkovitz/Tel Aviv University.

The remains of the 5-year-old child, found about 90 years ago on Mount Carmel, show a unique combination of Homo sapiens and Neanderthal anatomical features. Photo: Hanay via Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Led by Professor Israel Hershkovitz from Tel Aviv University and Anne Dambricourt-Malassé from the French National Center for Scientific Research, the team used advanced micro-CT scanning technology to create detailed 3D models of the child's skull and jaw. Photo: Israel Hershkovitz.

The results of the examination showed that although the child's skull had an overall shape similar to that of Homo sapiens, especially the curvature of the cranial vault, it still possessed characteristic Neanderthal features including the intracranial blood supply system, lower jaw structure, and inner ear anatomy. Photo: Israel Hershkovitz.

This remarkable combination provides the earliest evidence of a biological and social relationship between Neanderthals and modern humans. Photo: Israel Hershkovitz.

"Genetic studies over the past decade have shown that Neanderthals and modern humans did exchange genes. Even today, about 40,000 years after the Neanderthals became extinct, a portion of our genome - 2-6% - is still of Neanderthal origin. However, these gene exchanges occurred much later, between 60,000 and 40,000 years ago," Professor Hershkovitz explained. Photo: Tel Aviv University.

Prior to this study, experts found evidence of interbreeding between Neanderthals and modern humans in the remains of the “Lapedo Valley Child” excavated in Portugal. The research results showed that the interbreeding took place around 28,000 years ago. Photo: Joe McNally/Getty Images.

A discovery in Israel's Skhul Cave has pushed back the time of interbreeding between Neanderthals and modern humans by more than 100,000 years, giving scientists a better understanding of human evolution. Photo: ox.ac.uk.

Readers are invited to watch the video : Revealing lost civilizations through archaeological remains.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/bang-chung-moi-ve-su-giao-phoi-giua-nguoi-neanderthal-va-nguoi-hien-dai-post2149050216.html