Neanderthals and modern humans may have copied each other's tools [View all]

Research suggests species coexisted for more than 1,000 years and uncovers possible ‘exchange of ideas’

Hannah Devlin Science correspondent
@hannahdev
Thu 13 Oct 2022 11.11 EDT

Modern humans lived alongside Neanderthals for more than 1,000 years in Europe, according to research that suggests the two species may have imitated each other’s jewellery and stone tools.

Previously, it was known that humans and their ancient relatives existed at the same time on the European continent for more than 6,000 years and that the two species interbred on several occasions. But the extent of their interactions remains the focus of scientific investigation.

The latest paper suggests Homo sapiens may have coexisted with Neanderthals in France and northern Spain for 1,400-2,900 years before Neanderthals disappeared as a distinct species.

“In this region, there are a lot of similarities in the way that the two species were producing material culture and behaving,” said Igor Djakovic, a PhD student at Leiden University and first author of the analysis. “It lends credence to the idea that there was some kind of interaction going on.”

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/oct/13/neanderthals-and-modern-humans-may-have-copied-each-others-tools