Scientists have discovered a 140,000-year-old skeleton in Israel’s Skhul Cave that shows the earliest evidence of interbreeding between humans and Neanderthals. The fossil, found about 90 years ago, is believed to be the result of genetic infiltration from the local Neanderthal population into the Homo sapiens population.
The study, led by Prof. Israel Hershkovitz of Tel Aviv University and Anne Dambricourt-Malassé of the French National Centre for Scientific Research, reveals that the child’s skull, jaw, and inner ear structure display features typical of both Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. The discovery pushes back the timeline of human interbreeding by 40,000 years, showing that Neanderthals and modern humans were already mixing long before Europe’s later encounters.
The research team used advanced tests on the fossil, including micro-CT technology, to analyze its anatomical structures and compare them to various hominid populations. The study found that the child’s skull had a unique blood supply system, lower jaw, and inner ear structure typical of Neanderthals, but also showed similarities with Homo sapiens in terms of curvature of the skull vault.
The discovery is significant because it challenges traditional views on human evolution and migration patterns. For years, Neanderthals were thought to be a group that evolved in Europe, migrating to the Land of Israel only about 70,000 years ago. However, this new study shows that early Neanderthals lived in the region as far back as 400,000 years ago and interbred with Homo sapiens groups.
The researchers believe that the child from the Skhul Cave is the earliest fossil evidence of social and biological ties between Neanderthals and modern humans. The discovery provides new insights into human evolution and highlights the complexity of human migration patterns in the region.
Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250821094434.htm