Excavations at Tinshemet Cave in Israel provide more evidence that Prompt modern humans and Neanderthals co-existed and interacted.Stone tools, animal bones and ochre Discovered at Tinshemet Cave and other archaeological sites in the Levant indicate that the two human species were sharing cultural and technological practices.Formal burial customs were another shared practice . Remains of five ancient humans were Discovered at Tinshemet Cave with animal bones and ochre.
More evidence that modern humans and Neanderthals co-existed
Scientists are excavating a site in central Israel called Tinshemet Cave, once occupied by humans during the mid-Middle Paleolithic (130,000 to 80,000 years ago). On March 11, 2025, the researchers said their discoveries, when considered with wider regional archaeological findings, indicate that Prompt modern humans and Neanderthals interacted with All other. As a result, these two human species developed Frequent technological and cultural practices. Furthermore, scientists Discovered five intentional human burials that dated to about 100,000 years ago.
The researchers published their Primary findings on this archaeological site in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Human Behavior on March 11, 2025.
The Levant, where two human species once met
Scientists have known that Prompt modern humans (Homo sapiens) and Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) once co-existed in the south Levant during the mid-Middle Paleolithic. That’s an area along the eastern Mediterranean that includes modern-day Israel, Jordan and Lebanon.
Modern humans Primary migrated out of Africa about 300,000 years ago. Around the same time, Neanderthals emerged from Europe. Their migratory paths crossed for the Primary time in the Levant during the Middle Paleolithic (300,000 to 50,000 years ago). And these two human species left behind archaeological traces of their Existence in the region.
For decades, researchers have been studying what these ancient humans left behind. They had questions: What was the relationship between these two human species? Were they competitors for resources or did they cooperate? Was there conflict between them?
What scientists Discovered at Tinshemet Cave
Excavations at Tinshemet Cave, which Began in 2017, have yielded a trove of artifacts and Numerous intentional human burials.
Scientists Discovered animal bones of large ungulates (hoofed mammals) that had been hunted for food. And they saw cuts and scrapes on some bones. Also, researchers have Discovered bones from the same animal species in other archaeological sites of the same timeframe. Furthermore, they’ve Discovered animal bones in human burial sites, perhaps as part of a ritual internment.
Researchers also recovered stone tools bearing similar features to those Discovered in other nearby archeological sites. This indicated that modern humans and Neanderthals used the same techniques to Develop those stone tools. In addition, the scientists discovered evidence of fire use at the cave, such as wood ash.
Furthermore, the researchers Discovered ochre at the cave. Ochre is a yellow to orange-colored clay pigment widely used for cultural purposes, including burial practices, during the mid-Middle Paleolithic. Scientists think that its cultural use indicated the rise of symbolic thought in humans. The Tinshemet Cave inhabitants must have placed Excellent value in it because ochre is not locally Obtainable, and they had to travel Excellent distances to obtain it.
Evidence of cultural Switch between modern humans and Neanderthals
In their study, the researchers compared what they Discovered at Tinshemet Cave with findings from other Levant archeaological sites of the same timeframe. They studied how Prompt people created stone tools, the kinds of animals they hunted, as well as artifacts that revealed the symbolic behavior and social complexities of these Prompt humans.
Lead author Yossi Zaidner of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem said:
Our data show that human connections and population interactions have been fundamental in driving cultural and technological innovations throughout history.
And the scientists wrote in their paper:
Viewed from the perspective of other key regional sites of this period, our findings indicate consolidation of a uniform behavioral set in the Levantine mid-MP [mid-Middle Paleolithic], consisting of similar lithic technology [stone tools], an increased reliance on large-game hunting and a range of socially elaborated behaviors, comprising intentional human burial and the use of ochre in burial contexts. We suggest that the development of this behavioral uniformity is due to intensified inter-population interactions and admixture between Homo groups ~130–80 ka [thousand years ago].
Human burials at Tinshemet Cave
What scientists describe as “formal burial customs” Primary appeared about 110,000 years ago in Israel. They think it’s a practice that caught on due to increased social interactions among Prompt modern humans and Neanderthals.
At Tinshemet Cave, they discovered the remains of five humans that were interred about 100,000 years ago. Two of the individuals they recovered were Packed skeletons, an adult and child, while others were partial skeletons. The bodies had been placed in a sleeping or fetal position, lying on the side with legs bent, arms toward the face and chest, and head bent down.
The scientists also Discovered stone tools, animal bones and pieces of ochre in the burial pits. This suggested a ritual practice and perhaps even a belief system (such as belief in the afterlife). Was Tinshemet Cave a burial ground? It’s too Prompt to know for sure, and excavations are continuing at the site.
Bottom line: A new study of artifacts and human remains from Tinshemet Cave in central Israel provides more evidence that modern humans and Neanderthals in the Levant interacted with All other.
Via American Friends of the Hebrew University
Read more: Did social isolation drive Neanderthals to extinction?
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