Palaeontology

Neanderthals and modern humans worked together, new study finds

By T.K. Randall
April 15, 2026 ·  26 comments

Image: Early Human History
Credit: (PD) U.S. National Park Service Discoveries made at the site suggest that our ancestors didn't just live alongside Neanderthals, but may have also interacted and collaborated with them on a regular basis.

The cave itself is home to the first mid-Middle Palaeolithic burials found in five decades, making it a treasure trove for researchers attempting to learn more about the burial practices of the time.

But perhaps the most interesting insight from the excavations is what these burials reveal about the relationship between humans and Neanderthals.Both species would have regularly interacted, sharing their social behaviors, technologies, ritualistic burial practices and even the symbolic use of ochre.

The findings conflict with the previous view that humans and Neanderthals kept to themselves and instead paints a picture of a close and complex set of interactions between the two species.

"Our data show that human connections and population interactions have been fundamental in driving cultural and technological innovations throughout history," said study co-author Prof. Yossi Zaidner of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

It is hoped that further discoveries at Tinshemet Cave will help to reveal an even more detailed picture of how our ancestors lived alongside and interacted with the Neanderthals 110,000 years ago.

Source: Science Daily | Comments (26)

Tags: Neanderthals, Humans