When modern humans met the Neanderthals
In the period known as the Middle Palaeolithic, 250,000?50,000 years before present, two humanoid species lived in the Old World at the same time: Neanderthal man and modern man (Homo sapiens). Neanderthal man lived in Europe and Central Asia, whereas modern man lived in Africa. The Middle East, and the region of Israel in particular, were at the limits of the distribution of these two species and they therefore also contain remnants of the two populations at different times.
Groundbreaking research at the Boker Tachtit site in Ein Avdat National Park, in Israel?s Negev desert, provides the first proof of the two cultures? coexistence in the Negev, and pinpoints the time when modern humans left Africa ? 50,000 years ago (!)
The research, published this week in the prestigious scientific journal PNAS, is led by Prof. Elisabetta Boaretto of the Weizmann Institute of Science and Dr. Omry Barzilai of the Israel Antiquities Authority.
Genetic studies have shown that modern humans and Neanderthals met in the distant past in the geographical region of Eurasia (which includes Israel) and even exchanged genes. However, the exact time and place of these encounters have remained unknown, until now.
?Boker Tachtit is the first known site reached by modern man outside Africa, which is why the site and its precise dating are so important,? says Dr. Omry Barzilai, excavation director at the Boker Tachtit site on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority. ?The dating of the site to 50,000 years ago proves that modern man lived in the Negev at the same time as Neanderthal man, who we know inhabited the region in the same period. There is no doubt that, as they dwelt in and moved around the Negev, the two species were aware of each other?s existence. Our research on the Boker Tachtit site places an important, well-defined reference point on the timeline of human evolution.?
In the period known as the Middle Palaeolithic, 250,000?50,000 years before present, two humanoid species lived in the Old World at the same time: Neanderthal man and modern man (Homo sapiens). Neanderthal man lived in Europe and central Asia, whereas modern man lived in Africa. The Middle East, and the region of Israel in particular, were at the limits of the distribution of these two species and they therefore also contain remnants of the two populations at different times.
DNA studies show that about 60,000 years ago, groups of modern humans began a widespread process of migration from Africa to Asia and Europe and from there to the rest of the world, which ultimately led to the disappearance of Neanderthals and their assimilation into the modern human population. Therefore, the research hypothesis is that along the migration routes, there was short-term interaction between the ancient peoples and cultures, which also included genetic exchange. The present study is the first to confirm this hypothesis, proving that at least one of these intercultural encounters occurred in the Negev some 50,000 years ago.
?What was the nature of the encounter we have identified between the two human species? Did Neanderthals throughout the country become naturally extinct, merging with modern man, or did they disappear in violent ways? These questions will continue to concern us as researchers in the coming years,? concludes Dr. Barzilai.
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you mean region of Palestine, kingdom of Israel just excisted in north Palestine for 200 years and kingdom of Judeah just 400 years in south with capital Jeruzalem btw, that under USA lead and veto UNSC usa zionists invaded, occupied and annexed Palestine doesn't change name since 1150 BCE just like RF-russia's annexations doesn't change anything. Like german Merkel said on December 1, 2018 about Georgia,Ukraine annexation of RF-russia applies to state of Israel in Palestine also. Is clear for Germany: a wrongful act cannot create a new, legally valid country. (both for RF illegal occupations and Israel's occupation of Palestine now still blocked by USA UN vetos) Both Israeli's -RF-russians are agressors, occupiers and annexers, so war-criminals...
(joop braakhekke)
