A New DNA Revelation Rewrites The History of The Neanderthals in Europe

Researchers report a Neanderthal population crash beginning around 75,000 years ago followed by a partial recovery.

Mitochondrial DNA from 59 individuals shows a single maternal lineage dominated Late European Neanderthals.

Genetic diversity rose around 65,000 years ago and then dropped sharply between 45,000 and 42,000 years ago.

The study combines mtDNA and archaeological records and was published in PNAS.