100,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Fossils in Poland Reveal Unexpected Genetic Connections

Ancient mitochondrial DNA from eight Neanderthal teeth in Stajnia Cave, Poland, revealed at least seven individuals who lived about 100,000 years ago.

Some of the Neanderthals may have been closely related, offering a rare glimpse of group-level family ties.

Their maternal lineage matches Neanderthals from distant parts of western Eurasia, including Iberia, France, and the Caucasus.

The findings help researchers track Neanderthal relatedness, migration, and the spread of maternal lineages across Europe and western Asia.