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Modern human ancestors and Neanderthals mated during a 7,000-year-long 'pulse,' 2 new studies reveal
By Kristina Killgrove published
An analysis of genomes from some of the earliest modern humans to live in Europe reveals their ancestors interbred with Neanderthals in one period between 43,000 and 50,000 years ago.

Are Neanderthals and Homo sapiens the same species?
By Amanda Heidt last updated
Scientists have been vollying the question back and forth for more than a century.

New, big-headed archaic humans discovered: Who is Homo juluensis?
By Kristina Killgrove published
Researchers have named a new species in the Homo genus. What do we know about these "big headed" people?

1.5 million-year-old footprints reveal our Homo erectus ancestors lived with a 2nd proto-human species
By Kristina Killgrove published
A set of footprints found at the site of Koobi Fora in Kenya reveals that our ancestor Homo erectus coexisted with a now-extinct bipedal hominin, Paranthropus boisei, 1.5 million years ago.

From 'Lucy' to the 'Hobbits': The most famous fossils of human relatives
By Kristina Killgrove published
Countdown Lucy may be the best-known prehuman fossil in the world. But other famous fossils have given us important insight into our evolutionary history.

Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens buried their dead differently, study suggests
By Charles Q. Choi published
Neanderthals tended to bury their dead in caves, while early modern humans buried their dead in the fetal position, new research finds.

65,000-year-old hearth in Gibraltar may have been a Neanderthal 'glue factory,' study finds
By Kiona Smith published
Neanderthals may have used specialized hearths to make tar around 65,000 years ago, a new study finds.

Ancient human ancestor Lucy was not alone — she lived alongside at least 4 other proto-human species, emerging research suggests
By Kristina Killgrove published
Lucy lived in a wide range of habitats from northern Ethiopia to northern Kenya. Researchers now believe she wasn't the only australopithecine species there.
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