Our ancestors bred with Neanderthals 50,000 years ago — here's where scientists think they did it

You might think our early Homo sapiens ancestors were too busy fending off saber-tooth cats or inventing fire to worry about dating, but turns out, they were pretty social. In fact, about 50,000 years ago, Homo sapiens and Neanderthals not only crossed paths, but also seemingly interbred. But the big question has always been where this ancient affair took place. Thanks to recent studies, archaeologists believe they may have an answer.

A team of archaeologists from multiple universities in Germany, Denmark and Iran, used ecological niche modeling and geographic information systems to map out where Homo sapiens and Neanderthals were likely living during the Late Pleistocene. They narrowed it down to the Persian Plateau’s Zagros Mountains — modern-day Iran, Iraq, and southeastern Turkey. With its warm climate, diverse animal life, and strategic location, it would have been an ideal spot for both groups to settle, hunt, and, well.. interact.

The interbreeding likely occurred over several thousand years — roughly between 47,000 and 65,000 years ago. These events left a lasting imprint on us, with modern non-African humans carrying about 1-2% Neanderthal DNA. It seems the genes that stuck around were helpful, impacting traits like skin color and immune responses, which might have helped our ancestors adapt to new environments.

Why was Zagros so happening?

There’s many reasons Zagros was the ideal place for this prehistoric meet-cute. The region wasn’t just a Neanderthal haven with its varied biodiversity and topology; it was also right on the migration route that Homo sapiens took out of Africa. In other words, it would have been more surprising if the two groups hadn’t run into each other.

Archaeological evidence supports this theory. The region is full of both Homo sapiens and Neanderthal skeletons, including the famous Neanderthal “flower burial,” which suggests this area was a significant gathering place for both species. Given the overlap in time and location, it seems highly likely that the two groups not only encountered each other but interbred, leaving a genetic legacy that still affects us today.
So, while we may never know the exact moment of connection (or awkward small talk), we now have a better idea of where it likely happened — and why their shared genes continue to influence us today.

The findings of this research have been published in Scientific Reports and can be accessed here.

Editor's note: The story has been updated briefly after publishing to correct minor grammatical and language errors.