• About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Archaeology News
  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum
Archaeology News
No Result
View All Result
Home News Anthropology

First burials: evidence of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens sharing culture 110,000 years ago

by Dario Radley
March 14, 2025

A recent discovery in Tinshemet Cave, central Israel, is changing the way we look at early human interactions. Archaeologists have found human burials from the Middle Paleolithic period, and they revealed that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens not only lived in the same region but also shared aspects of daily life, technology, and funerary practices. The findings, published in Nature Human Behaviour, challenge previous assumptions and show that human connections played a key role in cultural and technological evolution.

First burials: evidence of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens sharing culture 110,000 years ago
Illustration representing Homo sapiens and the Neanderthal sharing technology and behavior. Credit: Efrat Bakshitz

Excavations in Tinshemet Cave, led by Professor Yossi Zaidner of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Professor Israel Hershkovitz of Tel Aviv University, and Dr. Marion Prévost of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, have been going on since 2017. They aim to understand the nature of interactions between different human groups in the Levant during the Middle Paleolithic (80,000–130,000 years ago). While researchers have long debated whether these groups were competitors, peaceful neighbors, or collaborators, the findings in Tinshemet Cave show a much more entwined relationship than previously thought.

The cave yielded five human burials – the first from this period discovered in over fifty years – along with stone tools, ochre pigments, and remains of large game such as aurochs, horses, and deer. The burials were in fetal position and often with red ochre and it looks like there were symbolic rituals. This is similar to what we see in other prehistoric sites like Skhul and Qafzeh caves, so it seems that early human populations in the Levant shared cultural traditions.

The ochre might have been used for body decoration, and its presence shows that symbolic expression was common among these groups. The stone tools were crafted using the Levallois technique, a sophisticated method used by both Neanderthals and early modern humans.

First burials: evidence of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens sharing culture 110,000 years ago
Exposed section of archaeological sediments dated to 110 thousand years ago at Tinshemet cave. Credit: Yossi Zaidner

Professor Zaidner emphasizes the importance of human connections in driving technological and cultural innovations: “Our data show that human connections and population interactions have been fundamental in driving cultural and technological innovations.”

RelatedStories

Ancient DNA in Yunnan reveals 7,100-year-old ‘ghost lineage’ tied to Tibetan and Austroasiatic origins

Ancient DNA in Yunnan reveals 7,100-year-old ‘ghost lineage’ tied to Tibetan and Austroasiatic origins

June 2, 2025
43,000-year-old Neanderthal fingerprint discovered on stone is the world's oldest

43,000-year-old Neanderthal fingerprint discovered on stone is the world’s oldest

May 30, 2025

Dr. Prévost points out the Levant’s special position as a crossroads for human migration. She notes that “climatic improvement during the Middle Paleolithic increased the region’s carrying capacity, leading to demographic expansion and intensified contact between different Homo taxa.”

First burials: evidence of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens sharing culture 110,000 years ago
Lithic artefact from Tinshemet Cave made using technology shared by Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. Credit- Marion Prévost

Professor Hershkovitz emphasized the depth of these relationships, saying that these early humans were not just coexisting, but interacting. “These findings paint a picture of dynamic interactions shaped by both cooperation and competition,” he said

The finds in Tinshemet Cave show that Neanderthals, early Homo sapiens, and possibly other human lineages influenced each other’s behavior for tens of thousands of years. While we are still waiting to know if the remains are of hybrids of modern humans and Neanderthals, the shared cultural elements are clear evidence of long-term interaction.

The researchers plan to conduct further studies on the remains to better understand the genetic relationships between these groups.

More information: Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Zaidner, Y., Prévost, M., Shahack-Gross, R. et al. (2025). Evidence from Tinshemet Cave in Israel suggests behavioural uniformity across Homo groups in the Levantine mid-Middle Palaeolithic circa 130,000–80,000 years ago. Nat Hum Behav. doi:10.1038/s41562-025-02110-y
Share2Tweet2ShareShareSend

You May Also Like...

6,000-year-old “Venus of Kołobrzeg” confirmed as rare Neolithic discovery in northern Poland
Archaeology

6,000-year-old “Venus of Kołobrzeg” confirmed as rare Neolithic discovery in northern Poland

June 21, 2025
2,000-year-old wall paintings revealed from ‘Beverly Hills of Roman London’ Credit: MOLA
Archaeology

2,000-year-old wall paintings unearthed in ‘Beverly Hills of Roman London’

June 20, 2025
Remarkable 11th-century ritual sword with rare symbolic inlays discovered in Dutch river
Archaeology

Remarkable 11th-century ritual sword with rare symbolic inlays discovered in Dutch river

June 19, 2025
Rare sperm whale tooth unearthed at Valencina Copper Age megasite reveals ancient Iberian coastal connections
Archaeology

Rare sperm whale tooth unearthed at Valencina Copper Age megasite reveals ancient Iberian coastal connections

June 17, 2025
Medieval bed burials across Europe reveal cultural diversity, symbolism, and mystery
Anthropology

Medieval bed burials across Europe reveal cultural diversity, symbolism, and mystery

June 16, 2025
Eldest sons held the power in ancient Egypt, new research reveals
Archaeology

Eldest sons held the power in ancient Egypt, new research reveals

June 16, 2025

Comments 0

  1. Editorial Team says:
    56 years ago
    Disclaimer: This website is a science-focused magazine that welcomes both academic and non-academic audiences. Comments are written by users and may include personal opinions or unverified claims. They do not necessarily reflect the views of our editorial team or rely on scientific evidence.
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow us


Instagram
247K

Facebook
108K

Threads
42K

LinkedIn
12K

Twitter
6K

YouTube
1K
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

May 18, 2025
Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure

Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure

May 28, 2025
Viking-era boat burial unearthed in Norway reveals 1,100-year-old remains of woman and her dog

Viking-era boat burial unearthed in Norway reveals 1,100-year-old remains of woman and her dog

June 9, 2025
6,200-year-old ‘cone-headed’ skull found in Iran reveals cranial modification and death by blunt force

6,200-year-old ‘cone-headed’ skull found in Iran reveals cranial modification and death by blunt force

June 13, 2025
Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

May 17, 2025
$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius' eruption

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius’ eruption

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado's expedition

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado’s expedition

6,000-year-old “Venus of Kołobrzeg” confirmed as rare Neolithic discovery in northern Poland

6,000-year-old “Venus of Kołobrzeg” confirmed as rare Neolithic discovery in northern Poland

June 21, 2025
2,000-year-old wall paintings revealed from ‘Beverly Hills of Roman London’ Credit: MOLA

2,000-year-old wall paintings unearthed in ‘Beverly Hills of Roman London’

June 20, 2025
Remarkable 11th-century ritual sword with rare symbolic inlays discovered in Dutch river

Remarkable 11th-century ritual sword with rare symbolic inlays discovered in Dutch river

June 19, 2025
Rare sperm whale tooth unearthed at Valencina Copper Age megasite reveals ancient Iberian coastal connections

Rare sperm whale tooth unearthed at Valencina Copper Age megasite reveals ancient Iberian coastal connections

June 17, 2025
Medieval bed burials across Europe reveal cultural diversity, symbolism, and mystery

Medieval bed burials across Europe reveal cultural diversity, symbolism, and mystery

June 16, 2025

Archaeology News online magazine

Archaeology News is an international online magazine that covers all aspects of archaeology.











Categories

  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • Download
  • Game
  • News
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Paleontology
  • Quiz
  • Tours

Subscribe to our newsletter

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum

About  .  Contact  .  Donation

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved

We use cookies to improve your experience and enable functionality and security of this site. Further detail is available in our Privacy Policy. By accepting all cookies, you consent to our use of cookies and use of data.