Ancient teeth proteins suggest Homo erectus interbred with Denisovans

13. toukokuuta 2026

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Researchers have extracted meaningful proteins from six teeth believed to belong to Homo erectus, offering new molecular clues about the species' relationships with other ancient hominins. The findings point to possible interbreeding with Denisovans in Asia around 400,000 years ago.

A team led by Qiaomei Fu at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing analyzed the teeth from sites in China, including Zhoukoudian, Hexian, and Sunjiadong. The proteins came from dental enamel and revealed two key variants. One appears unique to Homo erectus, while the other matches sequences previously identified in Denisovans.

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Ancient DNA reveals Neanderthal group in Polish cave

Researchers have analyzed mitochondrial DNA from eight Neanderthal teeth found in Stajnia Cave in Poland, reconstructing the genetic profile of a small group that lived there around 100,000 years ago. The study, published in Current Biology, marks the first such multi-individual genetic picture from a single site north of the Carpathians. The findings show genetic links to Neanderthals across Europe and the Caucasus.

Neanderthal tooth shows earliest evidence of dentistry

13. toukokuuta 2026 Raportoinut AI

A 59,000-year-old tooth from a Siberian cave reveals that Neanderthals drilled into cavities to treat decay. The discovery pushes back the origins of dentistry by tens of thousands of years. Researchers identified clear marks from stone tools on the molar.

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Ancient DNA uncovers complex kin relations in Swedish Stone Age graves

Researchers at Uppsala University have used ancient DNA to reveal that Stone Age burials in Sweden involved extended family members beyond immediate relatives. Analysis of shared graves at the Ajvide site on Gotland shows second- and third-degree kin were often buried together, suggesting strong community ties. The findings challenge assumptions about simple family structures in hunter-gatherer societies 5,500 years ago.

Neanderthal infants grew faster than modern human babies

15. huhtikuuta 2026 Raportoinut AI

A new analysis of the best-preserved Neanderthal infant skeleton shows that these ancient babies developed bones and brains at a pace matching modern humans aged 12 to 14 months, despite being only about six months old. The findings, based on the Amud 7 infant from Israel, suggest Neanderthals grew rapidly in early childhood as an adaptation to harsh environments. Researchers observed similar patterns in other young Neanderthal remains.

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