The oldest hybrid human fossil unearthed on Mount Carmel

A major archaeological discovery has just turned our understanding of human evolution. Meanwhile, Researchers from the University of Tel Aviv. Nevertheless, in collaboration with the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), announced on Wednesday the uncovered of the oldest human fossil in the world with hybrid characteristics between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens.

The skeleton. Consequently, belonging to a five -year -old child who lived 140,000 years ago, was discovered in the “Grotte du Chevreau” on Mount Carmel. For example, This find is the first physical proof of hybridization between these two ancestral human groups, long considered as distinct species.

Revealing anatomical evidence – Oldest hybrid human fossil unearthed

The detailed analysis of the child’s skull revealed fascinating characteristics. According to Professor Israel Hershkovitz. who directs the study, “the skull presents a general form recalling Homo sapiens, particularly at the level of oldest hybrid human fossil unearthed the cranial vault, but has an intracranial vascular system, a lower jaw and an inner ear structure typical of Neanderthals”.

Recent genetic research has already shown that 2 to 6% of our current genome comes from crossings with Neanderthals. but these genetic exchanges were dated from a much later period, between 40,000 and 60,000 years. This new discovery repels this chronology of almost 100,000 years.

A rewriting of human history

This discovery questions the established chronology of human evolution in the Middle East. The researchers had previously demonstrated in 2021 that primitive Neanderthals. called “men from Nesher Ramla”, already lived in the land of Israel 400,000 years ago, long before the supposed arrival of this species from Europe.

The child of Carmel therefore represents the tangible proof that these populations have met, cohabited and reproduced for millennia. This coexistence finally led to the absorption of local oldest hybrid human fossil unearthed Neanderthals in the population of Homo Sapiens. a process similar to that observed later in Europe.

Micro-CT imaging techniques have made it possible to create a precise three-dimensional model of the fossil. opening up new perspectives on the study of our ancestors and confirming that the history of humanity is much more complex and interconnected than we imagined.