News Humans

The earliest known hominid interbreeding occurred 700,000 years ago

Neandertal-Denisovan ancestors migrating to Eurasia heralded hookups with a resident Homo group

Homo erectus skull

A Homo erectus skull dating to around 1.8 million years ago, found at the Dmanisi site in the nation of Georgia, may come from a population that later interbred with ancestors of Neandertals and Denisovans, researchers say.

Sabena Jane Blackbird/Alamy Stock Photo

By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

Ancestors of Neandertals and Denisovans left Africa for Eurasia around 700,000 years ago and then interbred with a Homo population that had exited Africa long before, according to a new genetic study.