A recent study published in the peer-reviewed journal L’Anthropologie suggests that modern humans and Neanderthals interacted 100,000 years earlier than previously thought. The researchers used CT scans and 3D mapping to analyze the bones of a child believed to be a result of interbreeding between the two groups.
The child, discovered in Skhul Cave in northern Israel around 140,000 years ago, had traits of both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. Researchers compared the microscopic details found in the bones with known characteristics of both species, concluding that the child was likely a hybrid human.
The discovery sheds light on when the two groups began interacting and challenges the notion of modern humans as “intolerant” to other human groups due to their eventual dominance. The study also highlights the possibility of peaceful coexistence between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals, contradicting the idea that modern humans were responsible for the “total elimination” of Neanderthals.
Researchers used 3D mapping to analyze tiny details in the child’s skull and jaw, including delicate blood vessels. This technology allowed them to create a more accurate reconstruction of the child’s skull than could be built from the original fossilized bones.
While the study provides new insights into human origins, it also raises questions about the nature of interbreeding between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. The discovery of this ancient child suggests that interactions between the two groups were complex and multifaceted, challenging our understanding of human history.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/skhul-cave-interbred-bones-neanderthals-b2812285.html