Archaeologists working at Tinshemet Cave in central Israel are uncovering new insights into early humans, with the discovery of evidence that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens not only lived side by side during the mid-Middle Paleolithic era, but may have also influenced each other’s ways of life.
These interactions, researchers say, could have sparked some of the earliest cultural changes in humanity’s deep history.
The findings, published in Nature Human Behaviour, include human bones, thousands of ochre fragments, animal remains, and many stone tools, all dating around 110,000 years ago. These discoveries show that different groups of early humans in the southern Levant acted similarly, likely because they were in regular contact and shared ideas.
Tinshemet Cave is located on the east side of Nahal Beit Arif in central Israel, about ten kilometers from the open-air site of Nesher Ramla. Archaeologists began excavations there in 2017, led by Prof. Yossi Zaidner and Dr. Marion Prévost from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Prof. Israel Hershkovitz from Tel Aviv University.
Archaeologists found five sets of human remains at the site, including two full skeletons and three skulls. These seem to be formal burials and are the first of their kind found from the mid-Middle Paleolithic in over 50 years. The bodies were placed in a curled, fetal-like position, much like burials at nearby sites such as Qafzeh and Skhul Caves. This suggests that this burial style was common in the area.
Items found with the burials include pieces of ochre, stone tools, and animal bones. The remains of one individual had a large piece of red ochre placed between their leg bones. These finds show that burials at the cave had symbolic meaning and were part of a larger tradition.
The collection of ochre at Tinshemet Cave stands out because of how much and how many types were found. Over 7,500 pieces were recovered, ranging in color from red and orange to brown, yellow, and purple. About 76 percent of the recovered ochre is red or orange. Some pieces were heated intentionally, likely to make their color brighter, suggesting they were used for symbolic purposes.
Scientists found that the ochre came from at least four different locations, some more than 100 kilometers from the cave. The cave’s occupants brought ochre from distant sources, showing organization and shared symbolic values.
“Our data show that human connections and population interactions have been fundamental in driving cultural and technological innovations throughout history,” said Prof. Zaidner.
The stone tools found at Tinshemet Cave provide further evidence of shared traditions. A popular method for making tools, known as the centripetal Levallois technique, involves shaping a stone core and then removing a special flake. This method appears at major Middle Paleolithic sites like Qafzeh, Skhul, Tabun, and Nesher Ramla and defines a key feature of this period in southwest Asia.
Finding this technique at sites used by both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals suggests it spread through interaction between the groups, rather than through independent invention. This technological similarity shows that people in the Levant were in closer contact than in places like East Africa, where stone tool styles were more varied at the same time.
Researchers suggest that the Levant served as a crossroads for various human groups during this period. Growing populations, good climate, and geographic proximity probably helped these groups meet and interact. These encounters may have led to many of the cultural changes seen in the archaeological record.
The evidence shows that different groups living in the area at the same time buried their dead in similar ways, used the same red pigment, and made stone tools using the same methods. These shared habits suggest a common cultural tradition instead of separate ones.
“These findings paint a picture of dynamic interactions shaped by both cooperation and competition,” Prof. Hershkovitz concluded.
Austin Burgess is a writer and researcher with a background in sales, marketing, and data analytics. He holds an MBA, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and a data analytics certification. His work focuses on breaking scientific developments, with an emphasis on emerging biology, cognitive neuroscience, and archaeological discoveries.