New genetic evidence proves that modern humans, Homo sapiens, lived deep in northern Europe at least 45,000 years ago.
The discovery and its significance will be told with the help of Claude.
Analysis of bone fragments from an archeological site in Germany shows that early European Homo Sapiens made unique leaf-shaped, thin stone tools, identified with the Lincombian-Renaissian-Jercemanovich culture.
These findings predate the arrival of Homo sapiens in northwestern Europe by several thousand years - and more importantly, reveal overlap and coexistence with Neanderthals in the region before the latter disappeared about 40,000 years ago.
The Ranis site in central Germany has already been excavated several times, yielding many tools - but without the possibility of determining with high probability who made them, since no bones could be identified near them.
Now, by sequencing mitochondrial DNA in human bone chips found at the site, researchers have confirmed that they belong to Homo sapiens related through maternal lines (i.e. siblings born to the same mother).
Additional carbon dating of human and animal bones indicates a sporadic human settlement in the Branis cave as early as 47,500 years ago.
The genetic evidence fits well with the cultural artifacts, linking this pioneering group of Homo sapiens with the unique tool technology that can now be determined with high certainty to have been made by modern man rather than Neanderthal.
The findings indicate that modern humans adapted and settled in cold environments in northern Europe much earlier than scientists had previously estimated.
This also means that Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens lived side by side for thousands of years before Neanderthals became extinct.
Apparently, the co-culture of the two species occasionally occurred during this period.
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