Archaeological evidence from a cave site in southern Turkey suggests that early modern humans and Neanderthals not only coexisted but may have shared cultural practices for over 20,000 years. An international research team conducted extensive excavations at Üçagizli II Cave in Hatay Province, uncovering materials indicating both species lived in the same space and used similar stone tools.

Published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the findings reveal that both Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis selectively collected the same type of marine seashells, which bore little practical use. This behavior, previously thought to be exclusive to modern humans, points to possible symbolic or cultural exchanges between the two groups, according to study corresponding author Dr. Naoki Morimoto of Kyoto University.

“Our findings indicate a deep level of cultural interaction,” Morimoto said. He explained that the two closely related species were likely not only adapting to the same environment but also sharing symbolic preferences, suggesting the presence of a shared culture that transcended their biological differences.

The fossil evidence from Üçagizli II Cave dates modern human remains to approximately 50,000 to 60,000 years ago, a period when humans had begun migrating out of Africa into Eurasia. Morimoto noted that these individuals might represent a close relative of the founding lineage of all modern non-African populations or possibly survivors from an earlier wave of modern human migration into the Levant region.

The Levant, located at the crossroads of Africa and Eurasia, has historically been considered a key migration corridor. However, human fossils from this period have been scarce in the area, making this discovery particularly significant for understanding early human dispersals and interactions.

These findings contribute to growing evidence that Neanderthals and modern humans engaged in more complex relationships than previously understood, involving shared tools and cultural elements rather than mere coexistence or competition. The research highlights the potential for symbolic behavior crossing species boundaries, offering new insights into the social dynamics of early human populations.