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5h ago

140,000-Year-Old Skhul Child Shows Earliest Known Neanderthal–Human Interbreeding

Micro-CT imaging reveals mixed Homo sapiens–Neanderthal anatomy, pointing to contacts far earlier than the gene flow preserved in living non‑Africans.

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Male and female scientists study anatomy of fossil skull of ancient man using tablet computer. Archaeologists work in archaeological lab. Board with printed images of 3D visualization of humans head.
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Overview

  • The skeleton of a likely five-year-old female, excavated about 90 years ago in Skhul Cave on Mount Carmel, is dated to roughly 140,000 years.
  • The skull vault displays Homo sapiens–like curvature, while the intracranial blood supply, lower jaw, and inner ear show Neanderthal-typical traits.
  • Researchers from Tel Aviv University and the French CNRS used micro-CT scans and 3D reconstructions to conduct detailed morphological comparisons.
  • The find pushes physical evidence of Neanderthal–Homo sapiens interbreeding back by more than 100,000 years compared with the 28,000-year-old Lapedo Valley child.
  • The authors argue these early interactions in the Levant likely left little trace in modern genomes, aligning with genetic evidence for later admixture events between 60,000 and 40,000 years ago.