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Neanderthals

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Sex-biased interbreeding left a lasting Neanderthal DNA pattern in modern humans
anthropology1 day ago

Sex-biased interbreeding left a lasting Neanderthal DNA pattern in modern humans

A genetic analysis comparing Neanderthal genomes with African references shows Neanderthals carried far more modern human DNA on their X chromosome than on other chromosomes, while modern humans have very little Neanderthal DNA on their X. The researchers argue that this pattern results from sex-biased interbreeding—likely Neanderthal males with modern human females—rather than widespread genetic incompatibility. Computer simulations using a mating bias reproduce the observed distribution, suggesting social/partner-choice factors shaped inheritance. The team plans to investigate population structure to determine which sex moved between groups and how cultural practices influenced mating in ancient encounters.

via Archaeology News Online Magazine|
#anthropology#dna#interbreeding
Outsiders Targeted: Neanderthals’ 41,000-Year-Old Cannibalism at Goyet, Belgium
science1 day ago

Outsiders Targeted: Neanderthals’ 41,000-Year-Old Cannibalism at Goyet, Belgium

A decade-long study of Neanderthal bones from Belgium’s Troisième caverne de Goyet reveals selective cannibalism of outsiders, including adult women and children, dating to about 41,000–45,000 years ago. Cut marks and bone processing resemble those used on animal remains, suggesting food consumption rather than ritual activity. Genetic analyses indicate the individuals were outsiders to the local group, pointing to intergroup conflict during a time of Neanderthal decline and Homo sapiens’s increasing presence in the region.

via SciTechDaily|
#belgium#cannibalism#goyet
Male Neanderthals more often paired with human women, new study finds
science1 day ago

Male Neanderthals more often paired with human women, new study finds

A new Science study finds interbreeding between Neanderthals and modern humans was strongly sex-biased, with mating preferentially between male Neanderthals and female Homo sapiens. This bias helps explain the “Neanderthal deserts” on the human genome, especially the scarcity of Neanderthal DNA on the X chromosome, and why Neanderthal genes are unevenly distributed across non-African populations. Analyzing genomes from African populations with no Neanderthal ancestry and comparing them to Neanderthal genomes, the researchers conclude mate preference best accounts for the pattern, while noting that other evolutionary factors may also have contributed and that future work will explore Neanderthal social structures.

via Live Science|
#genomes#interbreeding#neanderthals
Ancient DNA Reveals Strong Mate Preferences Across Neanderthals and Modern Humans
science2 days ago

Ancient DNA Reveals Strong Mate Preferences Across Neanderthals and Modern Humans

A Science study shows that Neanderthal and modern-human ancestry influenced ancient mating: men with more Neanderthal DNA tended to pair with women with more modern-human DNA, suggesting a strong historical preference that helped shape the Neanderthal DNA in present-day genomes, though whether this reflects attraction or other factors remains uncertain.

via The New York Times|
#genetics#human-evolution#interbreeding
Neanderthals Repeatedly Placed Horned Skulls in a Cave, Hinting at Symbolic Practice
science6 days ago

Neanderthals Repeatedly Placed Horned Skulls in a Cave, Hinting at Symbolic Practice

Researchers studying Spain’s Des-Cubierta Cave found Neanderthals repeatedly deposited the top parts of horned animal skulls in a gallery over multiple phases between 70,000 and 50,000 years ago, following an initial rockfall; the pattern shows it wasn’t a one-off event and suggests a structured, possibly symbolic behavior in Neanderthal culture.

via ScienceAlert|
#archaeology#des-cubierta-cave#neanderthals
Neanderthals fell to a mosaic of factors, not a single foe
archaeology14 days ago

Neanderthals fell to a mosaic of factors, not a single foe

Extinction of Neanderthals appears to be the result of a mix of regional pressures: small, isolated populations prone to inbreeding and mutational burden, competition with expanding modern humans, and varied demographic dynamics across Eurasia. Genetic evidence confirms interbreeding with Homo sapiens, meaning Neanderthals contributed to the modern human genome, but there is no single smoking gun or uniform fate—different Neanderthal groups disappeared for different reasons over time.

via Live Science|
#ancient-dna#archaeology#extinction
Neanderthals curated skulls in a Spanish cave, revealing long-running cultural traditions
archaeology29 days ago

Neanderthals curated skulls in a Spanish cave, revealing long-running cultural traditions

New analysis of Des-Cubierta Cave in Spain shows Neanderthals repeatedly gathered and arranged 35 horned skulls over tens of thousands of years (135,000–43,000 years ago), alongside Mousterian tools, indicating a cultural practice not tied to survival and suggesting symbolic or social traditions transmitted across generations.

via Live Science|
#archaeology#cave#des-cubierta
Neanderthal Ghost Lineage Revealed: 50,000 Years of Complete Isolation
science1 month ago

Neanderthal Ghost Lineage Revealed: 50,000 Years of Complete Isolation

Genetic analysis of a Neanderthal from Grotte Mandrin in southern France reveals a 'ghost lineage' named Thorin that lived about 50,000 years ago and remained completely isolated from other Neanderthal populations for ~50,000 years, suggesting Neanderthals were far more fragmented than previously thought even when neighboring groups coexisted.

via ZME Science|
#geneticanalysis#ghostlineage#grottemandrin
Ancient Humans Rewrote Europe's Landscape Before Farming
science1 month ago

Ancient Humans Rewrote Europe's Landscape Before Farming

New computer simulations and pollen data show Neanderthals and Mesolithic hunter-gatherers reshaped Europe’s vegetation long before farming, via fire and hunting of large herbivores; Mesolithic groups may have influenced up to 47% of plant-type distribution, while Neanderthals affected about 6% of plant-type distribution and 14% of vegetation openness, challenging the view of an untouched pre-agricultural Europe.

via SciTechDaily|
#landscape#mesolithic#neanderthals