Genetic evidence confirms that the two species interbred multiple times. These encounters were not rare accidents but likely occurred across several regions and over extended periods. The presence of Neanderthal DNA in nearly all non-African modern populations reveals how deeply their lineage is woven into ours. These differences may have given Homo sapiens an edge in times of stress, contributing to the slow decline of Neanderthal populations.
The “Old Man of La Chapelle,” discovered in 1908, was initially misinterpreted as hunched and ape-like. Modern reevaluation showed he simply suffered from severe arthritis, leading to a major correction in how Neanderthals are portrayed. Skeletons found here included individuals who had lived despite major trauma. One burial contained traces of pollen around the body, once interpreted as evidence of floral offering—though the interpretation is still debated.
