First-ever reconstruction of a Neanderthal community in Europe achieved by scientists

Genetic analysis of Neanderthal remains

According to НВ — Техно: On June 25, 2023, a global team of 30 researchers published their findings in the journal Current Biology, based on genetic material recovered from Stajnia Cave in southern Poland. This landmark study represents the first successful genetic reconstruction of a Neanderthal group that lived north of the Carpathian Mountains roughly 120,000 to 92,000 years ago. Neanderthals are our closest extinct relatives, and this work offers rare insight into their social structure.

The research focused on nine teeth, which came from at least two children, adolescents, and adults. These teeth are the oldest genetically identified Neanderthal remains ever found in Central Europe. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA showed that these individuals belonged to a genetic lineage spanning from France and the Pyrenees all the way to the Caucasus.

Key discoveries from the study

The team also found that three of the nine teeth shared an identical genome, indicating they came from a common maternal line. However, due to high acidity and moisture levels in the cave, only the tooth enamel survived. One tooth showed signs of intentional removal, likely to relieve pain caused by periodontitis.

The Neanderthals in this study came into contact with modern humans around 45,000 years ago. Today, a genetic trace of Neanderthals remains present in many people outside Africa. According to researcher Pawel Dąbrowski, the project's authors plan further investigations into the nuclear DNA of these Neanderthal finds, opening new doors for understanding human history.

This research significantly advances our understanding of Neanderthal evolutionary history and their relationship with modern humans. - Pawel Dąbrowski

The genetic data from Stajnia Cave could illuminate Neanderthal migration routes and how they adapted to diverse environments. Ongoing studies of nuclear DNA may reveal additional details about their biology and behavior, ultimately reshaping our view of humanity's past.

In addition to this groundbreaking reconstruction, recent findings suggest that Neanderthals exhibited greater genetic diversity than previously recognized. This new perspective enhances our understanding of their adaptability and interactions with early humans. For more insights on the genetic variability of Neanderthals, check out the full article regarding their genetic diversity.