Homo sapiens Coexisted with Neanderthals in Europe for Longer Than Previously Thought, New Research Shows
New research suggests that Homo sapiens, or modern humans, may have coexisted with Neanderthals in Europe for thousands of years longer than previously believed. The discovery of 13 bone fragments belonging to Homo sapiens in a cave in Germany between 44,000 and 47,500 years ago provides evidence of the oldest known remains of modern humans in Central and Northwest Europe. This finding is surprising because it indicates that modern humans were able to adapt to the frigid climate of the region during that time.
The arrival of Homo sapiens in Europe occurred approximately 45,000 years ago, but they were not the first human lineage to inhabit the continent. Neanderthals, our closest extinct relatives who were well-adapted to the cold, had occupied Europe for at least 200,000 years until their extinction around 40,000 years ago. The nature of the interactions between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals during the Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition period (47,000 to 42,000 years ago) has been a topic of debate among experts.
To shed light on this transitional period, researchers conducted three new studies examining artifacts and climate data from that time. These findings were published in the journal Nature and Nature Ecology & Evolution. Previous archaeological discoveries had uncovered different stone tool manufacturing styles dating to this period, but it was unclear whether they were crafted by Homo sapiens or Neanderthals.
One of the studies focused on artifacts from the Lincombian-Ranisian-Jerzmanowician (LRJ) industry, which included intricately crafted leaf-shaped stone tools found throughout Northern Europe. The researchers analyzed thousands of bone fragments associated with LRJ artifacts in Ilsenhöhle (Ilse’s cave) in Ranis, Germany. They also conducted new excavations at the site and performed fresh analyses of remains discovered in the 1930s, which are now housed in museum collections.
The study revealed that the cave was intermittently used by denning hyenas, hibernating cave bears, and small groups of hominins, likely Homo sapiens or Neanderthals. These hominins consumed reindeer, woolly rhinoceroses, and horses. Although many bone fragments were too small and broken to be identified by shape, researchers used protein and DNA analysis to determine their origins. They discovered 13 bone fragments dating back 44,000 to 47,500 years ago.
Contrary to previous assumptions that transitional artifacts were mainly made by late Neanderthals, the LRJ artifacts were found to be crafted by Homo sapiens who had migrated into Europe earlier than previously thought. The analysis of animal teeth and bones from the cave indicated that the region had extremely cold climates and steppe or tundra landscapes similar to those found in Siberia or northern Scandinavia today.
These findings suggest that Homo sapiens arrived in Northwest Europe several thousand years before Neanderthals disappeared in Southwest Europe, indicating possible interactions between the two groups. This challenges the previous belief that Homo sapiens rapidly replaced Neanderthals in Europe through an east-to-west wave. Instead, it is now believed that Homo sapiens colonized the northern part of Europe first and lived there on the periphery of the Neanderthal world for several millennia. Eventually, they completely replaced Neanderthals after multiple waves of small groups moving into new territories.
Further research can explore whether other industries from the Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition period were also created by Homo sapiens. Additionally, examining Neanderthal remains after contact with Homo sapiens may reveal signs of Homo sapiens DNA in them. These discoveries provide valuable insights into the complex interactions between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals and contribute to our understanding of human evolution in Europe.