Latest news with #InstituteofHumanPaleontology
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
First Neanderthal–Homo Sapiens hybrid? CT scan reveals unusual features in 140,000 yr-old child skull: Study
Study reveals unusual features in a 140,000 yr-old child skull (Representative AI image) A 140,000-year-old skull found in Israel may belong to a child born to a Neanderthal and a Homo sapien, according to a new anatomical research. The remains of a 5-year-old girl was discovered in 1929 in Skhul Cave on Mount Carmel, along with the remains of seven adults, three children, and bones from 16 hominins. All were initially classified as Homo sapiens but the child's skull long puzzled researchers due to its unusual jaw, which differed from typical Homo sapiens mandibles. A recent study by resaercher Anne Dambricourt Malassé from the Institute of Human Paleontology in France used CT scans to re-examine the skull and the findings were published in L'Anthropologie journal. The team found that while the skull's structure aligned with Homo sapiens, the jaw displayed Neanderthal traits. This combination suggests the child may have been a hybrid. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 뇌혈관 뻥~ 뚫려! 3대 질환까지 싹... '카이스트 Rg3.' 특가 시작. 중년건강 꿀팁 더 알아보기 Undo Malassé said the findings challenge previous assumptions and without DNA analysis, the hybrid theory remains unconfirmed. Researchers noted that human populations have naturally varied appearances and that some features may not necessarily indicate hybridisation. Genetic studies have previously shown that Homo sapiens and Neanderthals interbred multiple times over the past 200,000 years. Researchers believe the Levant region, where the Skhul Cave is located, served as a key migration and interaction zone between hominin species due to its geographical position connecting Africa, Asia, and Europe. Malassé added that grave could reflect traditions burial practices between Homo sapiens, Neanderthals, or both. 'We do not know who buried this child,' she said, 'whether it was one community, or several groups from different lineages who coexisted, established contact, or even shared rites and emotions.'
NDTV
a day ago
- Science
- NDTV
140,000-Year-Old Skull Suggests Ancient Human-Neanderthal Hybrid: Study
Researchers shed new light on a skull, belonging to a young child, found almost 100 years ago in Skhul Cave on Mount Carmel in Israel. The skull, likely of a girl, was part of mysterious human remains found at a 140,000-year-old burial site. In a new study, published in the July-August issue of the journal L'Anthropologie, Anne Dambricourt Malasse at the Institute of Human Paleontology in France and her colleagues suggested that the skull, estimated to be 3-5 years old, could have been a cross between modern humans and Neanderthals. "This study is maybe the first that has put the Skhul child's remains on a scientific basis," John Hawks at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who wasn't involved in the new research, said as quoted by New Scientist. "The old reconstruction and associated work, literally set in plaster, did not really enable anyone to compare this child with a broader array of recent children to understand its biology." 140,000-year-old child's skull may have been part modern human, part Neanderthal — but not everyone is convinced #archaeology #Anthropology #science #SciChat — Gary McFarlane (@GaryM) July 12, 2025 The middle section of the skull's face and a large part of the base were missing. Meanwhile, the rest was in pieces. The braincase shows modern features typical of Homo sapiens. The researchers found the mandible had distinct Neanderthal characteristics. The jaw was also more Neanderthal-like, with a lack of chin. When the remains were unearthed, scientists then consolidated the pieces with plaster in an attempt to put the skull back together, making it difficult to study. Now, the researchers used modern CT scanning techniques to get a new and detailed look, suggesting that the child might be a hybrid of modern humans and Neanderthals. However, others argue it's premature to conclude without DNA evidence. Some scientists believe the skull's features could represent variability within Homo sapiens rather than hybridisation. "Even if not 1st-generation hybrids, it's certainly possible that the Skhul fossils reflect some gene flow between the 2 populations," Chris Stringer, a paleoanthropologist at the Natural History Museum in London who was not involved in the study, told Live Science. "Overall though, looking at all the material, including the skeletons, the material still primarily aligns with Homo sapiens, in my view." If confirmed as a hybrid, it would imply that Neanderthals and modern humans interbred more extensively than previously thought. It would change our understanding of human evolution. Studies suggest there was cross-population gene flow between Neanderthals and humans around 100,000 years ago, which could have resulted in the mixed features observed in the Skhul child. "I have long thought that hybridisations were not viable and I continue to think that they were mostly abortive," says Malasse. "This skeleton reveals that they were nevertheless possible, even though this little girl lived only 5 years."
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Eerie ‘hybrid' skull belonged to ‘half human, half neanderthal girl' that died 140,000 years ago aged just 3
A SKULL unearthed nearly a century ago is now believed to have belonged to a 'half human, half neanderthal girl', according to a new study. The girl, who experts say was just three-years-old at the time, died roughly 140,000 years ago, towards the end of the Middle Pleistocene era. 3 The girl's full skeleton is largely complete, with the left side better preserved Credit: Tel Aviv University 3 New analysis involving CT scanning suggests the remains belong to a hybrid species of ancient human, according the paper published in the journal L'Anthropologie Credit: Tel Aviv University Her remains were found when a rchaeologists unearthed several human skeletons, including seven adults and three children, while excavating Skuhl Cave just south of Haifa, Israel in 1929. The girl's full skeleton is largely complete, with the left side better preserved. Most of the remains were classified as early Homo sapiens; however, there remained some debate due to an unusual mix of skeletal features. New analysis involving CT scanning suggests the remains belong to a hybrid species of ancient human, according published in the journal L'Anthropologie. READ MORE ON ARCHAEOLOGY Focusing on the neurocranium - the part of the skull that cups the brain, the mandible - which forms the lower part of the jaw and mouth, as well as teeth the team found characteristics of both Homo sapiens and Neanderthal. Neanderthals and Homo sapiens had a period of about 5,400 years where both species roamed Earth at the same time. The relationship between the two species is not wholly understood. But they traded genes frequently during the period when their populations overlapped. Most read in Tech Prehistoric drawings of alien-like half-human creatures found in Amazon The baby girl may have been a result of this interbreeding, according to the study. Co-author Anne Dambricourt Malassé of the Institute of Human Paleontology in Paris said that she once thought such a hybridisation was not possible. The results of their analysis, however, demonstrate that it is possible, although the child in question died very young. 'This study is maybe the first that has put the Skhul child's remains on a scientific basis,' John Hawks of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who wasn't involved with the study, 'The old reconstruction and associated work, literally set in plaster, did not really enable anyone to compare this child with a broader array of recent children to understand its biology.' Although, Hawks cautioned that a DNA sample would be needed to officially confirm the study's findings. "Human populations are variable," he added. "And there can be a lot of variability in their appearance and physical form even without mixing with ancient groups like Neanderthals." It wouldn't be the first time a possible ancient human hybrid had been discovered. In 2018 , scientists analysed a bone fragment excavated from a cave site in Russia and concluded it belonged to a young girl of about 13 who was the offspring of a Neanderthal mother and a Denisovan father. 3 Neanderthals and Homo sapiens had a period of about 5,400 years where both species roamed Earth at the same time Credit: Israel Hershkovitz /Tel Aviv University
