Modern humans emerged from Africa about 150,000 years ago, according to the leading theory
(which has been challenged in recent years). The newfound skull is thought to be from sometime
in the first 5,000 years of human habitation of Europe.
A strange ancient skull recently uncovered adds to mounting evidence that humans
and Neanderthals interbred and suggests that humans evolved considerably after
settling the European continent some 40,000 years ago.
A Neanderthal skeleton, foreground, and its modern human equivalent.
"Such differences raise important questions about the evolutionary history of modern humans," Zilhão said. "They could be the result of evolutionary reversal or reflect incomplete paleontological sampling of Middle Paleolithic human diversity. They could also reflect admixture with Neanderthal populations as modern humans spread through western Eurasia. This mixture would have resulted in both archaic traits retained from the Neanderthals and unique combinations of traits resulting from the blending of previously divergent gene pools."
Questions remain
Trinkaus announced similar evidence of human-Neanderthal intermingling in October.
Some researchers have questioned whether humans and Neanderthals ever met, however. More bones must be found to fill in the time gaps and settle the questions, the researchers said.
"This fossil is a major addition to the growing body of fossil, genetic and archaeological evidence indicating significant levels of biological and cultural interaction between modern humans and the anatomically archaic populations [including the Neanderthals] they met along the way as they spread from Africa into Eurasia," Zilhão said.
The findings are detailed this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
(which has been challenged in recent years). The newfound skull is thought to be from sometime
in the first 5,000 years of human habitation of Europe.
A strange ancient skull recently uncovered adds to mounting evidence that humans
and Neanderthals interbred and suggests that humans evolved considerably after
settling the European continent some 40,000 years ago.
A Neanderthal skeleton, foreground, and its modern human equivalent.
"Such differences raise important questions about the evolutionary history of modern humans," Zilhão said. "They could be the result of evolutionary reversal or reflect incomplete paleontological sampling of Middle Paleolithic human diversity. They could also reflect admixture with Neanderthal populations as modern humans spread through western Eurasia. This mixture would have resulted in both archaic traits retained from the Neanderthals and unique combinations of traits resulting from the blending of previously divergent gene pools."
Questions remain
Trinkaus announced similar evidence of human-Neanderthal intermingling in October.
Some researchers have questioned whether humans and Neanderthals ever met, however. More bones must be found to fill in the time gaps and settle the questions, the researchers said.
"This fossil is a major addition to the growing body of fossil, genetic and archaeological evidence indicating significant levels of biological and cultural interaction between modern humans and the anatomically archaic populations [including the Neanderthals] they met along the way as they spread from Africa into Eurasia," Zilhão said.
The findings are detailed this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Xbone Stormsurgezz
