Database PCA: A middle Pleistocene Homo from Nesher Ramla, Israel

It has long been believed that Neanderthals originated and flourished on
the European continent. However, recent morphological and genetic studies
have suggested that they may have received a genetic contribution from a
yet unknown non-European group. Here we report on the recent discovery of
archaic Homo fossils from the site of Nesher Ramla, Israel, which we dated
to 140,000 to 120,000 years ago. Comprehensive qualitative and
quantitative analyses of the parietal bones, mandible, and lower second
molar revealed that this Homo group presents a distinctive combination of
Neanderthal and archaic features. We suggest that these specimens
represent the late survivors of a Levantine Middle Pleistocene paleodeme
that was most likely involved in the evolution of the Middle Pleistocene
Homo in Europe and East Asia.