Recent research has shed light on the puzzling demise of Neanderthals, our closest prehistoric human kin who vanished around 40,000 years ago.
Insights have materialized through the examination of genetic material extracted from a Neanderthal’s molar, leading to the identification of a new branch of the Neanderthal family tree. This discovery may clarify the difficulties Neanderthals faced in persisting as a species.
Pioneering Discovery in Prehistoric Genetics
At the heart of this revolutionary research is an individual Neanderthal, affectionately termed Thorin, whose remains were found in southeastern France and unveiled in 2015. The age of Thorin spurred debates among scientists due to variances between archeological and genetic data. This sparked a thorough seven-year scrutiny, resulting in a publication in Cell Genomics.
Lead author and archaeologist, Ludovic Slimak, has remarked, “Geneticists have recalibrated their tools, fundamentally altering everything we thought we understood about Neanderthals.” Before, Neanderthals were thought to be a uniform population. But the genetic profile of Thorin was markedly distinct from contemporaneous Neanderthals, denoting a divergence from common ancestors about 103,000 years ago.
Thorin’s genetic lineage faced considerable inbreeding, which has been connected to a decline in genetic diversity – a factor that heightens susceptibility to environmental shifts and diseases. Remarkably, this study suggests that Thorin’s lineage maintained its isolation not due to geographic constraints but rather by choice of social conduct.
“We’re considering a social limitation,” Slimak expressed, referring to the observation that other Neanderthal groups lived in close proximity yet interacted minimally with Thorin’s clan. This social and genetic detachment may have been a significant element in the later extinction of the Neanderthals.
Contrastingly, the vast social networks and genetic variation in early modern human groups may have been instrumental in their persistence.
April Nowell, a Paleolithic archaeologist not associated with the study, remarked, “The genetic isolation from this study reveals intriguing aspects about the Neanderthals, their struggles, and their eventual disappearance.”
The study offers a fresh perspective on the downfall of Neanderthals, suggesting that their secluded social behavior might have contributed to their extinction. This new understanding of our ancient ancestors not only enriches our knowledge of human development but also underscores the significance of social interaction for the survival of a species..
