It’s official: we finally know where humans and Neanderthals hooked up. Our species, Homo sapiens, interbred extensively with Neanderthals—and now, researchers have pinpointed the likely geographic hotspot where it all happened.
Although it’s long been known (and, yes, somewhat awkward) that Homo sapiens and Neanderthals engaged in interbreeding, previous studies mainly focused on when these interactions occurred. A new study sheds light on where they met and mated.
Scientists examined the geographic distribution of both human species in Southwest Asia and Southeast Europe during the Late Pleistocene, the era in which these ancient encounters are believed to have taken place. What they found was a striking area of overlap—one that strongly suggests a shared space conducive to interaction.
The answer? The Zagros Mountains.
This long and rugged mountain range sprawls across the Persian Plateau, cutting through modern-day Iran, northern Iraq, and southeastern Turkey. The Zagros Mountains offered a perfect setting for Neanderthals and modern humans to encounter one another.
Why here? The region’s rich biodiversity and varied topography made it a haven for sustaining large human populations. Furthermore, during dramatic Pleistocene climatic shifts, the Zagros acted as a critical corridor between the colder Palearctic and the warmer Afrotropical realms, making it a likely convergence point for migrating hominins.
Not only does this area make ecological sense, but it also fits neatly with archaeological and genetic evidence. Excavations in the Zagros region have uncovered prehistoric remains of both Neanderthals and Homo sapiens, confirming the physical presence of both species in this very zone.
This “interspecies mingling” left a lasting legacy. Ever since scientists first sequenced the Neanderthal genome in 2010, we’ve known that the interbreeding wasn’t just a rare event—it was extensive. Between 1 and 4 percent of the DNA in all non-African humans today comes from Neanderthals.
These ancient genes still shape modern humans in surprising ways—from bigger noses and lower pain thresholds to greater susceptibility to COVID-19 and depression.
The full findings were recently published in the journal Scientific Reports, finally solving a mystery that has fascinated anthropologists for years.
Leave a Reply