Did you know that Neanderthals and Homosapiens lived together for more than 100,000 years? Research suggests that these two populations likely interbred and had similar hunting and gathering cultures.
“I don’t believe that there was a big barrier separating these two groups in the Levant,” says Hovers. “It’s more likely that small groups of bothand Neanderthals were constantly moving in and out of the area, and coexisting peacefully.
” They were both hunting and gathering populations. Neanderthals moved back and forth to Europe, where they originally evolved;moved back and forth to Africa for the same reason. Hovers says that it’s unlikely that when one group moved through, the other would exit. “It’s not like they were playing musical chairs and when one group came in the other would leave. When they were in the Levant, these groups likely had territories and were separate but they would probably come in contact with each other from time to time,” she says. She adds that this prehistoric gathering place was no accident. Both groups ended up in the Levant because it was a favorable place to live that linked Africa to Asia. Its mild climate cultivated ample flora and fauna for feasting.Research does not solidify whether these communities co-existed at a certain moment in time. But, says Hovers, when you compare fossils from Neanderthal archeological dig sites anddig sites, the dating is similar, suggesting it would make sense that the groups lived together contemporaneously. What’s more, the material culture of each group is indistinguishable — they seemed to use similar tools and burial customs. Both hunted with spear-like weapons and ate foods like deer, gazelles, pigs and wild cows. It’s actually hard to tell which material culture belonged to which group, unless you find a fossil specimen right beside a weapon or tool.