News Anthropology

Ancient DNA unveils a previously unknown line of Neandertals

European Neandertals consisted of at least two distinct populations, scientists say

A row of fossilized teeth partly sticking out of dirt and rocks

Neanderthal DNA from a molar from this skeleton suggests that that the population had more than one evolutionary line.

Ludovic Slimak

By Bruce Bower

Neandertals traveled at least two evolutionary paths on their way to extinction around 40,000 years ago, a new study suggests.

Whether classified as a separate species or a variant of Homo sapiens, Neandertals have typically been viewed as a genetically consistent population. But an adult male’s partial skeleton discovered in France contains genetic clues to a Neandertal line that evolved apart from other European Neandertals for around 50,000 years, nearly up to the time these close relatives of H.