Leiden, Netherlands – According to a statement issued by Leiden UniversityMarie Soresi of Leiden University and colleagues analyzed the genomes of 27 Neanderthals who lived shortly before the species’ extinction. These remains were recovered in France and Belgium, and included the bones of a Neanderthal man recently excavated in Les Cotes, France. Analysis of this individual’s genome revealed a connection to Neanderthal populations living outside Western Europe. It was previously suggested that a lack of genetic diversity due to declining populations contributed to the demise of the Neanderthals. However, the study determined that these 27 individuals were not from the same group. Rather, they lived in close-knit communities with different ancestral lineages. Furthermore, scientists found no sign of recent contact between Neanderthals and modern humans. “We are beginning to uncover the diversity and complexity of Neanderthal populations,” Soresi said. They conclude, “As more genomes become available from sites in Europe and beyond, we can move from studying isolated individuals to reconstructing entire communities, their relationships, and the social networks that connect them.” Read the original scholarly article about this research Nature. To read about the Neanderthal remains included in the study that were recovered from a site in Belgium, visit “What happened in Goyet’s Cave?“
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