Lapedo child’s age confirmed by new method

Researchers used a novel radiocarbon dating method called compound-specific radiocarbon analysis (CSRA) to determine that the Lapedo child lived between 25,830 and 26,600 years ago, or about 28,000 years ago. This is significantly older than previous estimates, which had placed the child’s life much more recently.

Hybrid child challenges old theories

The Lapedo child, discovered in 1998 in Portugal, had a skeleton showing a mix of Neanderthal and modern human traits, such as a prominent chin and short legs. This made the child a rare example of a hybrid, which was controversial in the late 1990s when interbreeding between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens was still debated.

Genetic evidence confirms interbreeding

The sequencing of the first Neanderthal genome in 2010 confirmed that interbreeding had occurred between Neanderthals and modern humans. However, the exact age of the Lapedo child remained uncertain until the new dating method provided a more precise timeline.

Ritual items found to be older than the child

Archaeologists had previously thought that items found with the child’s remains, such as deer bones and charcoal, were part of a funeral ritual. However, the new dating method showed that these items were much older than the child, suggesting they were not part of the burial ceremony.

Study highlights human-Neanderthal interactions

The study published in Science Advances confirms the existence of hybrid individuals and suggests that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens coexisted for thousands of years. Researchers hope this new dating will lead to more discoveries and a better understanding of the eventual disappearance of Neanderthals.