New analysis of 30,000-year-old teeth discovered in southwestern France indicates they belonged to modern humans, not Neanderthals as previously suggested. The findings, published in the American Journal of Biological Anthropology, overturn a long-standing theory that the teeth were evidence of a Neanderthal child butchered by Paleolithic humans who wore the teeth as ornaments.
Jérôme Isle de Beauchaine of France’s National Natural History Museum and his colleagues reexamined the teeth from Les Rois Cave, which were unearthed in the mid-twentieth century. Earlier researchers had proposed that the incisors were Neanderthal, based on their shape and the context of the site. However, the new evaluation found that the teeth are not “shovel shaped,” a characteristic typical of Neanderthal incisors. Instead, they feature a “flat labial surface,” a trait common in modern human teeth. The enamel thickness also falls within the normal range for modern humans, whereas Neanderthal teeth generally have thinner enamel.
The teeth do retain some Neanderthal-like features, which the researchers suggest may reflect a mosaic of ancient and modern traits in Paleolithic human populations. This blending of characteristics is not unusual in human evolution, as interbreeding and shared ancestry between Neanderthals and early modern humans are well documented. Isle de Beauchaine concluded that all human bones unearthed at Les Rois are the remains of modern humans, not Neanderthals.
The original interpretation of the teeth had fueled broader narratives about violent encounters between Neanderthals and modern humans. The new study shifts the focus to cultural practices among early modern humans. Isle de Beauchaine speculated that wearing the teeth of the deceased as jewelry may have been a funerary tradition, a practice seen in other Paleolithic contexts. This reinterpretation adds to a growing body of evidence that modern humans in Europe engaged in symbolic behaviors, including body ornamentation, long before the end of the last Ice Age.
The Les Rois Cave site has been significant for understanding the transition from Neanderthals to modern humans in Europe. The new findings align with recent genetic and archaeological studies that suggest modern humans and Neanderthals coexisted and interacted in complex ways, including possible cultural exchanges. However, the study also underscores the challenges of interpreting fragmentary skeletal remains, as morphological traits can overlap between species.
Researchers emphasize that the teeth’s mosaic features highlight the need for careful analysis when classifying hominin remains. The study contributes to a broader understanding of human evolution and the behaviors of early modern humans, particularly their treatment of the dead. Further research at Les Rois and similar sites may help clarify the extent of symbolic practices among Paleolithic populations and their interactions with Neanderthals.
