Anthropology

Judi Lynn

(162,374 posts) Sun Sep 8, 2024, 06:56 AM Sep 8

We Now Know Exactly Where In The World Humans And Neanderthals Hooked Up

Our species wildly interbred with Neanderthals – and we now know where.

Tom Hale
Senior Journalist

Edited
by
Katy Evans

It’s a well-established (and slightly uncomfortable) fact that Homo sapiens and Neanderthals interbred with one another. Recent research looked into when this inter-species kanoodling occurred and now another new piece of research has investigated where exactly it happened.

Scientists took a close look at the geographical distribution of both species in Southwest Asia and Southeast Europe around the time we know they hooked up during the Late Pleistocene.

This revealed a clear location where the two human species overlapped with each other and likely interbred: the Zagros Mountains, a long mountain range on the Persian Plateau that stretches across the modern-day borders of Iran, northern Iraq, and southeastern Turkey.

The Zagros Mountains would have been an ideal place for the two species to rendezvous. The region has a diverse range of biodiversity and topography capable of supporting large stable human populations. Plus, it could have welcomed humans from other parts of the planet during the Pleistocene climatic shifts, acting as a corridor connecting the cooler Palearctic realm with the warmer Afrotropical realm.

The location also neatly lines up with the archeological record and genetic evidence. The Zagros Mountains region is rich in archaeological sites containing the remains of both Neanderthals and prehistoric Homo sapiens.

More:
https://www.iflscience.com/we-now-know-exactly-where-in-the-world-humans-and-neanderthals-hooked-up-75850

28 replies

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Highlight:

We Now Know Exactly Where In The World Humans And Neanderthals Hooked Up (Original Post) Judi Lynn Sep 8 OP

Plus there was that wild club in the Zagros Mountains, Studio 54000BCE. tanyev Sep 8 #1

And i thought it was at Sandals... rubbersole Sep 8 #10

Here's a picture of some of the guests: Dave Bowman Sep 8 #20

Kanoodling and hooking up sounds very romantic. Or was it Homo sapiens raping Neanderthals? Doodley Sep 8 #2

That's exactly what I was thinking Beatlelvr Sep 8 #4

They probably "raped" half of their own women OnionPatch Sep 8 #12

Could have been the other way around. And could have been a mutual interest. erronis Sep 8 #6

Good point! Doodley Sep 8 #7

I don't know if it was done intentionally but a good way to mix up the gene pool...on both sides..nt mitch96 Sep 8 #18

When did the migration from Africa happen? brush Sep 8 #3

Thank you! EverHopeful Sep 8 #5

Thanks for that link - I look forward to watching and trying to understand. erronis Sep 8 #8

Have they looked into MTG's home state of Georgia? Dan Sep 8 #9

Funny! rubbersole Sep 8 #11

Tsk, tsk. What an insult to both Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals. wnylib Sep 9 #21

My long held "hunch" Picaro Sep 8 #13

I have that same hunch. wnylib Sep 9 #22

There is an excellent article here- HighFired49 Sep 9 #24

Thanks! Picaro Sep 9 #25

Mount Ararat? AverageOldGuy Sep 8 #14

Near each other but separate geologic formations. wnylib Sep 9 #23

A motel in New Jersey, just off the interstate. CaptainTruth Sep 8 #15

There's a really great book hermetic Sep 8 #16

Not sure why anyone would find the fact uncomfortable GreatShakes66 Sep 8 #17

Yes. ShazzieB Sep 8 #19

When I read the OP's title, grumpyduck Sep 9 #26

The stormy/donnie thing was in Lake Tahoe, I believe.... unblock Sep 9 #27

Many of the "hook-ups" were rape. Bmoboy Sep 9 #28

tanyev

(44,501 posts)

1. Plus there was that wild club in the Zagros Mountains, Studio 54000BCE.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sun Sep 8, 2024, 07:21 AM

Sep 8

Oh man, the psychedelics and the drumming!

rubbersole

(8,503 posts)

10. And i thought it was at Sandals...

Reply to tanyev (Reply #1)

Sun Sep 8, 2024, 09:26 AM

Sep 8

...there was a coupon in Conde Nasty...

Dave Bowman

(3,596 posts)

20. Here's a picture of some of the guests:

Reply to tanyev (Reply #1)

Sun Sep 8, 2024, 08:54 PM

Sep 8

Doodley

(10,360 posts)

2. Kanoodling and hooking up sounds very romantic. Or was it Homo sapiens raping Neanderthals?

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sun Sep 8, 2024, 07:33 AM

Sep 8

Beatlelvr

(675 posts)

4. That's exactly what I was thinking

Reply to Doodley (Reply #2)

Sun Sep 8, 2024, 08:02 AM

Sep 8

I doubt there was such a thing as romance!

OnionPatch

(6,217 posts)

12. They probably "raped" half of their own women

Reply to Beatlelvr (Reply #4)

Sun Sep 8, 2024, 09:30 AM

Sep 8

In those days, I don't think consent for sex was much of a thing.

erronis

(16,825 posts)

6. Could have been the other way around. And could have been a mutual interest.

Reply to Doodley (Reply #2)

Sun Sep 8, 2024, 08:12 AM

Sep 8

It's sort of silly to think that homo sapiens were always dominant. And it's pretty obvious that there are many examples of individuals from different groups of animals (we are animals) being attracted to one another.

Doodley

(10,360 posts)

7. Good point!

Reply to erronis (Reply #6)

Sun Sep 8, 2024, 08:32 AM

Sep 8

mitch96

(14,651 posts)

18. I don't know if it was done intentionally but a good way to mix up the gene pool...on both sides..nt

Reply to erronis (Reply #6)

Sun Sep 8, 2024, 10:02 AM

Sep 8

brush

(57,471 posts)

3. When did the migration from Africa happen?

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sun Sep 8, 2024, 07:42 AM

Sep 8

EverHopeful

(365 posts)

5. Thank you!

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sun Sep 8, 2024, 08:10 AM

Sep 8

Last edited Sun Sep 8, 2024, 09:02 AM - Edit history (1)

Also recommend The Big Questions audio at the link discussing Hominins and Homo Sapiens. Learned of hominin species I hadn't heard of before.

No mention of human chromosome 2 which is a current fascination of mine but suppose it was outside the parameters of the discussion.

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/07/3/l_073_47.html#

Apologies. I meant the audio link in the original OP. The link I added is a brief discussion of human chromosome 2. Afraid I'm not always as clear as I wish I was

erronis

(16,825 posts)

8. Thanks for that link - I look forward to watching and trying to understand.

Reply to EverHopeful (Reply #5)

Sun Sep 8, 2024, 08:54 AM

Sep 8

Dan

(4,095 posts)

9. Have they looked into MTG's home state of Georgia?

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sun Sep 8, 2024, 09:21 AM

Sep 8

rubbersole

(8,503 posts)

11. Funny!

Reply to Dan (Reply #9)

Sun Sep 8, 2024, 09:28 AM

Sep 8

wnylib

(24,373 posts)

21. Tsk, tsk. What an insult to both Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals.

Reply to Dan (Reply #9)

Mon Sep 9, 2024, 07:24 AM

Sep 9

Picaro

(1,798 posts)

13. My long held "hunch"

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sun Sep 8, 2024, 09:30 AM

Sep 8

I’ve long had a hunch that the Neandertals disappeared due to interbreeding with homo sapiens rather than some violent genocide.

If someone has any expertise with paleo genetics feel free to chime in.

wnylib

(24,373 posts)

22. I have that same hunch.

Reply to Picaro (Reply #13)

Mon Sep 9, 2024, 07:25 AM

Sep 9

HighFired49

(386 posts)

24. There is an excellent article here-

Reply to Picaro (Reply #13)

Mon Sep 9, 2024, 10:54 AM

Sep 9

from the Smithsonian. Not too technical, easy to read."Ancient DNA and Neanderthals" https://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/genetics/ancient-dna-and-neanderthals

Picaro

(1,798 posts)

25. Thanks!

Reply to HighFired49 (Reply #24)

Mon Sep 9, 2024, 11:17 AM

Sep 9

I knew there would be one of our folks that would have found something germane to the topic.

Best curated site on the net.

DU is so much more than just politics.

BTW, I just subscribed to their print magazine.

AverageOldGuy

(2,052 posts)

14. Mount Ararat?

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sun Sep 8, 2024, 09:33 AM

Sep 8

Are the Zargos Mountains the location of the biblical Mount Ararat, where the mythical Noah’s ark came to rest?

wnylib

(24,373 posts)

23. Near each other but separate geologic formations.

Reply to AverageOldGuy (Reply #14)

Mon Sep 9, 2024, 07:32 AM

Sep 9

CaptainTruth

(7,210 posts)

15. A motel in New Jersey, just off the interstate.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sun Sep 8, 2024, 09:39 AM

Sep 8

That's what I heard.

hermetic

(8,622 posts)

16. There's a really great book

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sun Sep 8, 2024, 09:51 AM

Sep 8

IMO, Extinction by Douglas Preston. Just published this year. It's fiction but has lots of scientific facts about Neanderthals and such. And it's also scary as hell. In case you're ever looking for something along those lines...

GreatShakes66

(94 posts)

17. Not sure why anyone would find the fact uncomfortable

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sun Sep 8, 2024, 09:56 AM

Sep 8

Neanderthals were humans. More brutish looking than modern humans, but still intelligent. Homo Sapiens at the time probably didn't look that great by modern standards either.

ShazzieB

(18,641 posts)

19. Yes.

Reply to GreatShakes66 (Reply #17)

Sun Sep 8, 2024, 12:25 PM

Sep 8

Furthermore, homo sapiens sapiens (modern humans) and homo sapiens neanderthalensis (neanderthals) are subspecies of the species homo sapiens, not 2 different species. It's not at all surprising that they would interact with each other in a variety of ways, including sexually, when their paths crossed.