Oldest Human DNA Reveals Lost Branch of the Human Family Tree

Scientists have recently uncovered the oldest known Homo sapiens DNA from human remains found in Europe. This discovery is shedding light on the shared history between our species and Neanderthals.

The DNA, extracted from 13 bone fragments discovered in a cave beneath a medieval castle in Ranis, Germany, came from six individuals, including a mother, daughter, and distant cousins who lived around 45,000 years ago. The findings were published in Nature on Thursday.

The researchers found evidence of Neanderthal ancestry in these ancient genomes. They concluded that the ancestors of these early humans likely interacted with Neanderthals about 1,500 years before, or around 80 generations earlier. While these interactions likely happened in the same region, they may not have occurred in the exact same location.

To read more about this discovery, please click on the image below:

A skull found in Zlatý kůň in the Czech Republic contains DNA that linked the woman to the Ranis individuals.