Earliest evidence of Neanderthal-Homo sapiens interbreeding found in Israel
A 140,000-year-old fossil in Israel shows the earliest evidence of Neanderthal-Homo sapiens interbreeding.
Why it matters
- First physical evidence of interbreeding between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens.
- Challenges previous beliefs about the timeline of Neanderthal migration and interbreeding.
By the numbers
- Fossil age: 140,000 years old.
- Modern humans have 2-6% Neanderthal DNA.
The big picture
- Neanderthals and Homo sapiens had social and biological relations earlier than thought.
- Suggests Neanderthals were in the Land of Israel much earlier than previously believed.
What they're saying
- Some suggest the fossil might represent a modern human with ancestral features.
- Questions about genetic diversity implications given a known genetic bottleneck.
Caveats
- Based on a single fossil.
- Debate over interpretation of findings.
What’s next
- Further research needed to confirm findings and understand the extent of interbreeding.