Ancient Cave Find Indicates Cultural Links Between Neanderthals and Humans
WHO:
CNN - Lead author İsmail Baykara, a professor in the department of archaeology at Gaziantep University in Turkey.
CNN - Co-author Naoki Morimoto, a researcher at Kyoto University in Japan.
Live Science - April Nowell, a Paleolithic archaeologist at the University of Victoria in Canada.
WHAT:
CNN - The study indicates that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens made similar flint tools in a style known as Mousterian.
Live Science - The two species hunted the same types of animals, including wild goats (Capra aegagrus), fallow deer (Dama mesopotamica), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and wild boar (Sus scrofa).
Live Science - The study found that some Columbella rustica shells were pierced, suggesting they could have been used as ornaments.
CNN - The study authors described the shells as “manuports,” indicating they were transported by individuals from their places of origin.
CNN - Archaeologists discovered evidence suggesting that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens shared cultural traditions.
CNN - The study published in the journal PNAS indicates that Neanderthals inhabited the Üçağızlı II cave between 77,000 and 59,000 years ago, while Homo sapiens occupied it between 59,000 and 47,000 years ago.
Live Science - The findings include similar hunting practices, stone tools, and the collection of seashells by both species.
Live Science - The research team found 29 shells of the marine snail Columbella rustica, which were likely used as ornaments.
WHERE:
CNN - The Üçağızlı II cave is located in southern Turkey.
Live Science - The cave is situated on a stretch of coastline just north of Syria.
WHEN:
Live Science - The research team plans to perform excavations at the Üçağızlı II cave site in 2024.
CNN - Systematic excavation of the Üçağızlı II cave began in 2020.
Live Science - The study was published on July 6 in the journal PNAS.
WHY:
CNN - The findings suggest a deep level of cultural interaction between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens, indicating they likely shared symbolic preferences.
CNN - The findings suggest that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens likely interacted and shared cultural traditions over time.
Live Science - The research aims to address questions about the cultural similarities and interactions between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens.
HOW:
CNN - The dating of sediment layers in the cave was used to determine the timeframes of habitation by both species.
Live Science - The internal structure of fossilized teeth was analyzed to distinguish between Neanderthal and Homo sapiens remains.
(UPDATED July 8, 2026 02:54 UTC)
A new study reveals that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens crafted similar flint tools in a style known as Mousterian, while also hunting the same types of animals, including wild goats, fallow deer, roe deer, and wild boar. The research also found pierced Columbella rustica shells, which may have been used as ornaments, and described these shells as "manuports," indicating they were transported by individuals from their original locations. Looking ahead, the research team plans to conduct excavations at the Üçağızlı II cave site in 2024, further exploring the cultural interactions between these two ancient species.
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(UPDATED July 7, 2026 21:28 UTC)
Archaeologists have uncovered evidence suggesting that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens shared cultural traditions, with findings published in the journal PNAS. The study reveals that Neanderthals inhabited the Üçağızlı II cave in southern Turkey between 77,000 and 59,000 years ago, while Homo sapiens occupied the same site from 59,000 to 47,000 years ago, showcasing similar hunting practices and the use of stone tools. Notably, the research team discovered 29 shells of the marine snail Columbella rustica, likely used as ornaments, indicating interactions between the two species over time.