Scientists have a unique opportunity to trace the migration of Neanderthals across the Eurasian continent by studying remains found on the Crimean Peninsula. A bone fragment from the Staroselye canopy in Crimea, previously considered simply an ancient find, turned out to be part of a Neanderthal femur. The results are published in the journal PNAS.
Researchers were able to extract mitochondrial DNA – inherited from the maternal lineage – from the bones and discovered a surprising connection to Neanderthal remains from Altai, hundreds of kilometers to the east.
“The long-distance migrations of Neanderthals facilitated contact and interbreeding with Homo sapiens and Denisovans in different parts of the world,” said archaeologist Emily Pigott of the University of Vienna.
Traces of thousands of kilometers
Mitochondrial DNA analysis has shown that groups of Neanderthals from Eastern Europe may have moved 3,000 kilometers east, leaving genetic traces behind them. These conclusions are also confirmed by the style of stone tool making found in both Crimea and Siberia. Of particular interest is the fact that the Crimean sample is closely related to the so-called “girl with a Neanderthal mother and a Denisovan father,” suggesting complex mixed populations.
Radiocarbon dating determined the age of the bones to be approximately 46–45 thousand years. According to Pigott, the active movements of Neanderthals occurred during periods of warming. Scientists determine the time of the first such travel to be about 120–100 thousand years ago, the second is about 60 thousand years ago.
Hunting and the environment
In addition to DNA, the researchers also studied the protein remains of 150 bone fragments from Staroselye. Most belonged to horses, which is consistent with the theory that Neanderthals actively hunted these animals. Such findings allow us not only to understand the movements of ancient humans, but also to visualize their lifestyle, diet and interaction with the environment.
“These relics help track migration, while also providing a window into the daily lives of Neanderthals,” Pigott added.
The study shows that genetics and archeology together can reveal important details. Studying mitochondrial DNA allows scientists not only to identify a species, but also to learn how human groups interacted with each other, where they migrated, and with whom they interbred.
These results transform understanding of the distances and levels of active movement of Neanderthals, suggesting they were more mobile and socially complex creatures than previously thought. The finds in Crimea became the key to understanding the history of the Neanderthals, connecting Europe with Siberia and even East Asia, creating a panorama of their ancient world.
