Neanderthals and humans mated more recently than we thought! Ancient species interbred with our ancestors within the past 50,000 years, study finds - rewriting the story of our evolution
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After humans first migrated out of Africa about 60,000 years ago, we started having sex with Neanderthals – a now extinct archaic but closely-related species. Now, scientists claim to have the most accurate estimate yet of when this breeding period took place – and it's more recently than we thought.
![[This image provided by National Museum, Prague shows the skull of an early Homo sapien called Zlatý k, originally discovered in the Konprusy caves of the Czech Republic]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/13/09/93113845-14188985-image-a-17_1734082969896.jpg)
Two comprehensive studies, including analysis of skulls of ancient modern humans (Homo sapiens) in Europe and Asia, were performed to pinpoint the time period. Results show the two species started to breed with each other about 50,500 years ago and continued to do so for about 7,000 years, until Neanderthals began to die out.
![[Artist's depiction shows what Zlatý k might have looked like during her lifetime. She may have been among some of the first Homo sapiens to have mated with Neanderthals]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/13/09/93114055-14188985-Artist_s_depiction_shows_what_Zlat_k_from-a-21_1734083438445.jpg)
For comparison, previous estimates for the time of interbreeding ranged from 54,000 to 41,000 years ago. Neanderthals, who were living in Europe and Asia, had large noses, strong double-arched brow ridge and relatively short and stocky bodies. Meanwhile, modern humans (Homo sapiens) evolved in Africa but migrated out of the continent 60,000 to 70,000 years ago.
![[This model at the Natural History Museum of Basel depicts a Neanderthal female. Despite going extinct around 40,000 years ago, the genes of Neanderthals are still found in humans today]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/13/10/93114287-14188985-image-a-23_1734084409878.jpg)
When we reached Europe and Asia and found the Neanderthals, primitive sexual urges meant the two species couldn't resist each other, despite the physical differences. Neanderthals, who were already established in Europe and Asia when homo sapiens left Africa, had large noses, strong double-arched brow ridge and relatively short and stocky bodies.
![[Neanderthals were an early relative of humans who died out around 40,000 years ago, although their time on this planet did overlap with modern humans (homo sapiens). Pictured, a recreation of a Neanderthal woman]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/13/08/93088745-14188985-Neanderthals_were_an_early_relative_of_humans_who_died_out_aroun-a-3_1734078126405.jpg)
The new findings have been published by an international team of experts in two studies, published in Nature and Science. 'These results provide us with a deeper understanding of some of the earliest pioneers that settled in Europe,' said Professor Johannes Krause, co-author of the Nature paper.
