Neanderthals' Gradual Disappearance from Existence Hints at Climate Shifts

Neanderthals existed at the same time as humans but eventually these hominids became extinct. Now, scientists have taken a closer look at Neanderthals to find out exactly when they disappeared from existence.

Previous studies have dated the disappearance of Neanderthals from Europe at around 40,000 years ago. This came after researchers studied fossil remains found at sites located from the Black Sea in Russia to the Atlantic coastline of Spain.

Now, though, researchers have found that in the Iberian Peninsula, Neanderthals may have disappeared as much as 45,000 years ago. This, in particular, shows how Neanderthals were slowly pushed to extinction over time. In fact, this latest finding actually works in with previous discoveries.

"Both conclusions are complementary and not contradictory," said Bertila Galvan, lead author of the new study, in a news release.

The latest study questions the existence of Neanderthals in the Iberian Peninsula later than 43,000 years ago. Researchers examined findings from El Salt, and looked at the Neanderthals' final occupation there. They found that there is a new timeline for the disappearance of Neanderthals limited to the Iberian Peninsula. New dates indicate a possible disappearance of the regional Neanderthal populations around 45,000 years ago.

The gradual disappearance actually coincided with a change in the climate. This new climate created colder and more arid environmental conditions, which probably had an adverse effect on the lives of these diminishing populations. In fact, the researchers believe that humans at the time had no role in Neanderthal disappearance and, instead, climate was the main driver of Neanderthal extinction.

The findings reveal a bit more about the timeline in which Neanderthals disappeared. It also shows that their extinction was gradual, which fits into the idea that climate had a large role.

The findings are published in the Journal of Human Evolution.

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).