Could ancient humans and Neanderthals have been more than just distant relatives? A newly uncovered burial site in Tinshemet Cave, Israel, suggests that these two groups were not only living side by side but also exchanging cultural traditions, tools, and even funeral practices. This astonishing discovery points to the possibility that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens may have formed an early, unified civilization—long before modern humans took over the world.
Archaeologists recently unearthed five burials in Tinshemet Cave, where bodies were carefully arranged in a fetal position alongside red ochre and animal bones—strong indicators of ritualistic funerary practices. This is nearly identical to burials found at Qafzeh, Skhul, Tabun, and Nesher Ramla, all dated to around 100,000 years ago.
The shocking part? Some of these sites were occupied by early Homo sapiens, while others were home to Neanderthals or mixed hominin groups. As revealed by IFLScience, Despite their genetic differences, they all followed the same burial traditions, suggesting a shared cultural system that spanned across multiple species.
Neanderthals And Homo Sapiens Used The Same Advanced Technology
The connection between these prehistoric populations doesn’t stop at burials. Scientists found that all of these ancient groups used the exact same sophisticated stone tool-making technique called centripetal Levallois technology.
This method wasn’t something that evolved separately—it was taught and passed down, meaning that different hominin groups were actively sharing knowledge and techniques.
According to Professor Yossi Zaidner, a lead researcher on the study,
“Most of the hominins that we see during this period of time are hybrids.”
Furthermore, Neanderthals and early humans weren’t just tolerating each other’s presence—they were collaborating and innovating together.
A Common Hunting Strategy Across All Groups
Adding to the mystery, archaeologists discovered that every site from this era shows the same hunting pattern. Instead of targeting random prey, both Neanderthals and Homo sapiens populations focused on large herbivores like aurochs and horses—a strategy that differs from both their ancestors and their descendants.
This suggests that a shared survival system had developed, where knowledge about the best hunting techniques and prey selection was passed between different hominin groups.
Perhaps the most mind-blowing part of this discovery is its implications for early human thought.
The use of ochre, symbolic burials, and sophisticated tool-making all point to the development of abstract thinking, rituals, and traditions. These are not random behaviors—they are the roots of civilization itself.
“We only see this specific type of stone tool production technology during this period of time. We don’t have it before,” explained Zaidner to IFLScience. “And it occurs across all the sites, regardless of whether [the makers had] more archaic Homo sapiens features or more Neanderthal features.”
This raises an unsettling question: Did an early, mixed-species civilization emerge in the Levant—only to vanish, leaving no trace in later human history?
This discovery flips the script on everything we thought we knew about prehistoric humans. It suggests that Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens may have built a shared way of life, a structured society, and even a rudimentary culture—together.
