The results from the analysis of the genomes of the last Neanderthals in Europe

Researchers from Leiden University in the Netherlands analyzed the genomes of 27 Neanderthals who lived shortly before the species went extinct. The remains primarily come from sites in France and Belgium, including a recently discovered individual in Les Cottés, France.

The genome analysis of this latter individual showed connections with Neanderthal populations that inhabited areas outside of Western Europe. This challenges previous ideas about a possible lack of genetic diversity that may have contributed to their extinction.

According to the study, these 27 individuals were not part of a single isolated group. Instead, they lived in interconnected communities that shared different ancestral lineages. This complex social network suggests a richer organization than previously thought.

The results indicate that there were no signs of recent contact between these Neanderthals and modern humans. This absence of genetic mixing during the analyzed period is one of the key findings of the work led by Marie Soressi.

An unexpected diversity

For a long time, it was speculated that population reduction and low genetic diversity had accelerated the end of the Neanderthals. However, the examination of these genomes shows a different reality: there was a variety of lineages and connections between distant groups.

Soressi, an archaeologist from Leiden, emphasized the importance of these advancements. “We are just beginning to uncover the diversity and complexity of Neanderthal populations,” she noted. She added that with more genomes available from different sites in Europe and other regions, it will be possible to reconstruct entire communities, their relationships, and the social networks that connected them.

The studied remains include material from well-known caves and sites in the region. The focus on individuals from the final times of the species allows for a better understanding of their final dynamics.

This type of genetic research opens new doors to understanding how these hominids lived, their movements, and their interactions within Europe tens of thousands of years ago.

Implications for the study of the past

The work published in Nature represents an important step in paleoanthropology. By analyzing complete genomes instead of isolated individuals, scientists can piece together a broader picture of Neanderthal life in their final stages.

The presence of diverse lineages among the 27 individuals suggests that populations maintained contacts and genetic flows over considerable distances. This speaks to a capacity for organization and mobility greater than was traditionally attributed.