The oldest remains of modern humans in Central Europe, dating back 45,000 years, have been discovered in a cave. This finding challenges previous beliefs about the timeline of Homo sapiens’ arrival in Europe and their coexistence with Neanderthals. The unearthed bone fragments, belonging to individuals who occupied a German cave between 44,000 and 47,500 years ago, highlight the adaptability of early Homo sapiens to harsh climatic conditions. The surprise discovery also contradicts assumptions about the frigid climate in the region at that time.
The study suggests that modern humans crossed the Alps into Northern Europe around 45,000 years ago, potentially overlapping with Neanderthals for a more extended period than previously thought. Neanderthals, well-adapted to the cold, had occupied Europe from approximately 200,000 years ago until their extinction around 40,000 years ago. Previous research indicated Homo sapiens entering Southwest Europe by 46,000 years ago, leading to ongoing debates about their interactions with Neanderthals during the Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition (47,000 to 42,000 years ago).
To investigate this transitional period, three studies examined artifacts and climate conditions, revealing that the Lincombian-Ranisian-Jerzmanowician (LRJ) industry, previously associated with Neanderthals, was crafted by Homo sapiens. The studies focused on bone fragments in Ilsenhöhle cave in Germany, suggesting intermittent human habitation between 44,000 and 47,500 years ago. Analysis of proteins and DNA extracted from these remains unveiled the presence of Homo sapiens much earlier than previously believed.
The research challenges the notion of a rapid east-to-west wave of Homo sapiens replacing Neanderthals. Instead, it proposes successive pulses of small human groups colonizing new territories before eventually replacing Neanderthals. The findings raise questions about the complex interactions between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals, indicating that Homo sapiens may have lived in the northern part of Europe on the periphery of the Neanderthal world for several millennia before complete replacement. Future research aims to explore the origins of other transitional industries and examine Neanderthal remains for signs of Homo sapiens DNA after contact.
