ARCHAEOLOGY: The 'Last' Neanderthal
Newsweek US|October 04, 2024
Analysis of the remains of one our closest extinct relatives has challenged existing knowledge of Homo neanderthalensis
ARISTOS GEORGIOU
ARCHAEOLOGY: The 'Last' Neanderthal

REMAINS OF ONE OF THE "LAST" NEANDERthals have been discovered, with researchers saying that the find casts new light on the history of these archaic humans.

The Neanderthal was unearthed at a cave known as "Grotte Mandrin" in southern France's Rhône Valley. The 2015 find has been reported in scientific literature for the first time, in a study published in the journal Cell Genomics.

The authors-led by Ludovic Slimak, a researcher with Paul Sabatier University in Toulouse, France nicknamed the individual "Thorin" in homage to a character in J.R.R. Tolkien's 1937 novel The Hobbit, a dwarf king and the last of his line.

"The Thorin of Mandrin is, in turn, one of the last Neanderthals," Slimak wrote in a piece for The Conversation.

After discovering Thorin, the research team analyzed his genome, which revealed surprising insights. According to the paper, Thorin lived in a small, isolated community between 42,000 and 50,000 years ago, one that represents a previously undescribed and particularly ancient Neanderthal lineage.

This population seemingly diverged from other currently known "late Neanderthals" around 100,000 years ago and remained genetically isolated for more than 50,000 years, the authors said.

Slimak told Newsweek that the latest results challenge what was previously known about the nature of the last Neanderthal populations. The findings could help researchers understand their mysterious disappearance, the causes of which are subject to significant debate.

"Now, everything must be rewritten about the greatest extinction of humanity," Slimak said.

Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) are one of our closest extinct relatives. This species lived in Eurasia until their disappearance about 40,000 years ago. In certain regions and periods, they coexisted with anatomically modern humans and even interbred with us.

This story is from the October 04, 2024 edition of Newsweek US.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the October 04, 2024 edition of Newsweek US.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM NEWSWEEK USView All
Zachary Quinto
Newsweek US

Zachary Quinto

ZACHARY QUINTO HAS PLAYED DOCTORS BEFORE, BUT HE'S \"NEVER PLAYED a doctor like\" the one he plays on NBC's Brilliant Minds (September 23).

time-read
2 mins  |
October 11, 2024
Adam Brody
Newsweek US

Adam Brody

NETFLIX KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT MILLENNIALS want, and it's to see Adam Brody and Kristen Bell fall in love.

time-read
1 min  |
October 11, 2024
Partners in Crime
Newsweek US

Partners in Crime

Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt shares his delight at teaming up with Shailene Woodley again in new Amazon Prime movie Killer Heat

time-read
6 mins  |
October 11, 2024
HOW TO FIND A WORKPLACE THAT LOVES YOU BACK
Newsweek US

HOW TO FIND A WORKPLACE THAT LOVES YOU BACK

Insights from America's Top Most Loved Workplaces

time-read
3 mins  |
October 11, 2024
MOST LOVED WORKPLACES 2024
Newsweek US

MOST LOVED WORKPLACES 2024

AT A TIME WHEN WORKERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES CONTINUE TO redefine what they expect from their jobs, the companies on Newsweek's annual list of the Most Loved Workplaces in America are setting the standard for what a fulfilling workplace looks like.

time-read
10 mins  |
October 11, 2024
Q&A LEE YARON
Newsweek US

Q&A LEE YARON

With 10/7, the professional became profoundly personal.

time-read
3 mins  |
October 11, 2024
SDEROT INTERSECTION
Newsweek US

SDEROT INTERSECTION

How Jewish and Arab strangers united to rescue two little girls amidst Hamas’ October 7 attack

time-read
9 mins  |
October 11, 2024
No End in Sight
Newsweek US

No End in Sight

AS TENSIONS CONTINUE TO FLARE AT ISRAEL'S BORDERS, NEWSWEEK DISCOVERS HOW LIFE HAS CHANGED IN THE REGION A YEAR ON FROM THE OCTOBER 7 HAMAS ATTACKS

time-read
10+ mins  |
October 11, 2024
Thai Scammers Set Sights on US
Newsweek US

Thai Scammers Set Sights on US

Newsweek looks inside the Southeast Asian country's $2 billion cybercrime industry and how American citizens are now falling prey to sophisticated schemes run overseas

time-read
6 mins  |
October 11, 2024
PARTING SHOT: Sarah Paulson
Newsweek US

PARTING SHOT: Sarah Paulson

\"CAN YOU IMAGINE IF THE AIR WAS JUST FILLED WITH DUST PARTICLES and you literally could not breathe?\" That's what Sarah Paulson is tackling in her new film Hold Your Breath (October 3).

time-read
1 min  |
October 04, 2024