Researchers have confirmed that human remains found in Stajnia Cave in Poland belong to Neanderthals, based on new analysis of teeth and ancient DNA.
The study, published in Current Biology, was carried out by an international team that included scientists from the University of Wrocław. The material is dated to between 92,000 and 119,000 years ago.
Four teeth recovered from the cave formed the basis of the initial identification. Their size and structure match known Neanderthal characteristics. To verify this, researchers extracted mitochondrial DNA from the remains, while genetic results confirmed the classification.
Samples were obtained from at least seven individuals. There are indications the number could be slightly higher, though not all remains are complete enough for firm identification.
The genetic sequences were compared with those from other Neanderthal sites, Denisovans, and modern humans. The closest matches were populations from Western Europe and the northern Caucasus. That pattern suggests groups moved over long distances, with the area of present-day Poland forming part of that range.
The research team was led by Andrea Picin. Work on the teeth and skeletal material involved Wioletta Nowaczewska, while Andrzej Wiśniewski contributed to the excavation and site analysis.
The presence of several individuals in one location stands out. The remains include children as well as adults, which is not often the case in cave finds of this period.
DNA results also point to a close link between three of the individuals. They share identical mitochondrial sequences, which are inherited through the maternal line. This suggests a direct family relationship, possibly a mother and her children.
Evidence from animal bones found in the same layers shows that the environment at the time was colder than today. This aligns with what is known about the period when Neanderthals occupied the region. The environmental analysis involved researchers including Krzysztof Stefaniak, Adam Marciszak and Paweł Socha.
Stajnia Cave lies in southern Poland, in a limestone upland north of the Carpathian Mountains. It has been studied for years, but the latest findings add clearer evidence about who lived there and how they may have been connected.
Sources : Current Biology
