Tinshemet cave during the excavations. (Credit- Yossi Zaidner)

JERUSALEM — In a limestone cave in Israel, archaeologists have uncovered evidence of what might be the oldest case of cultural sharing between different human species. The discovery reveals that around 100,000 years ago, early Homo sapiens and their Neanderthal-like neighbors weren’t just occasionally bumping into each other—they were participating in a shared cultural world, complete with identical toolmaking traditions, hunting practices, and even burial rituals. This finding turns the traditional story of human evolution on its head, suggesting that cultural exchange between different human species was the rule, not the exception, in our ancient past.

The findings at Tinshemet Cave, published in Nature Human Behaviour, provide a rare glimpse into a pivotal period when multiple human species coexisted in the Middle East. The site has yielded fully articulated human skeletons carefully positioned in burial positions, thousands of ochre fragments transported from distant sources, stone tools made with consistent manufacturing techniques, and animal bones that reveal specific hunting preferences—all dating to what scientists call the mid-Middle Paleolithic period (130,000-80,000 years ago).

“Our data show that human connections and population interactions have been fundamental in driving cultural and technological innovations throughout history,” says lead researcher Prof. Yossi Zaidner of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, in a statement.

The discovery is especially significant because the Levant region (modern-day Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan) served as a crossroads where different human populations met. Previous discoveries in the region had uncovered fossils with mixed physical characteristics, suggesting that interbreeding occurred between Homo sapiens migrating out of Africa and local Neanderthal-like populations.

What makes the Tinshemet Cave findings transformative is that they demonstrate these different-looking humans weren’t just meeting and mating—they were sharing their unique cultural behaviors and traditions across population boundaries.

Located just 10 kilometers from another significant archaeological site called Nesher Ramla (where Neanderthal-like fossils were previously discovered), Tinshemet Cave preserves evidence of sustained human occupation over thousands of years. The research team excavated multiple layers of sediments inside the cave and on its terrace, uncovering a wealth of artifacts that tell a cohesive story of sophisticated human activity.

Among the most striking discoveries are the human burials. The excavations revealed at least five individuals, including two complete articulated skeletons—one adult and one child. The bodies were deliberately placed in a fetal position on their sides with bent limbs, a burial position remarkably similar to contemporaneous burials found at other Middle Paleolithic sites in the region, including the famous Qafzeh and Skhul caves.

These burials represent the earliest known examples of intentional human burial anywhere in the world, predating similar practices in Europe and Africa by tens of thousands of years. More importantly, they show that diverse human populations were treating their dead with similar ceremonial care, suggesting shared symbolic behaviors and possibly shared beliefs.

Another fascinating discovery was the abundant presence of ochre—a naturally occurring mineral pigment that produces red, yellow, and purple hues. The research team recovered more than 7,500 ochre fragments throughout the site, with the highest concentrations found in layers containing human burials. Chemical analysis revealed that these ochre materials came from at least four different sources, some located as far as 60-80 kilometers away in Galilee, and others possibly from the central Negev, more than 100 kilometers to the south.

The significant effort invested in obtaining these pigments from distant sources suggests their importance in the lives of these ancient people. The presence of large chunks of ochre near human remains—including a 4-5 cm piece found between the legs of one buried individual—hints at their ritual significance. Evidence of heat treatment to enhance the red color of some ochre pieces further reveals sophisticated knowledge and intentional manipulation of these materials.

Stone tool production at Tinshemet Cave demonstrates another dimension of cultural uniformity. The researchers analyzed nearly 2,800 stone artifacts and found that a specific flint-knapping technique known as the centripetal Levallois method dominated tool production. This method, which involves careful preparation of a stone core to produce standardized flakes, appears consistently across mid-Middle Paleolithic sites in the region.

This technological consistency is particularly remarkable because it differs significantly from both earlier and later stone tool traditions in the Levant. Earlier Middle Paleolithic populations (around 250,000-140,000 years ago) primarily used methods to produce blade-like tools, while later populations (after 80,000 years ago) employed a more diverse set of techniques. The dominance of the centripetal Levallois method during this middle period represents a distinct technological tradition shared across populations.

Analysis of animal bones from the site reveals a third element of behavioral uniformity: a focus on hunting large game animals. Unlike earlier and later periods, when smaller prey like gazelles dominated the diet, the mid-Middle Paleolithic hunters at Tinshemet and similar sites showed a clear preference for larger ungulates, particularly aurochs (wild cattle) and equids (horse-like animals). This pattern suggests either a shift in hunting strategies or different approaches to transporting animal resources, possibly connected to changes in settlement patterns.

To establish the age of the findings, the research team employed multiple dating techniques, including thermoluminescence dating of burnt flint, optically stimulated luminescence dating of quartz grains in the sediments, and uranium-series dating of snail shells and flowstones. These methods consistently dated the main human occupation layers to approximately 97,000-106,000 years ago, placing them firmly within the mid-Middle Paleolithic period.

The timing corresponds to a warm interglacial period known as Marine Isotope Stage 5, when climatic conditions in the Levant were relatively favorable. Pollen analysis from the lowest layers of the cave indicates a Mediterranean open forest environment with wide-spaced trees, small shrubs, and herbs dominated by evergreen oak.

Perhaps most intriguing about the Tinshemet Cave discovery is what it suggests about interactions between different human populations. “These findings paint a picture of dynamic interactions shaped by both cooperation and competition,” says co-lead author Dr. Marion Prévost.

Scientists have long associated specific behaviors or technologies exclusively with particular human species. Now we have strong evidence that points to a landscape of interaction, where cultural innovations spread across population boundaries through social learning and exchange.

As excavations at Tinshemet Cave continue, researchers hope to uncover additional evidence about the lives and interactions of these ancient people. The site has already yielded remarkable insights into a crucial chapter of human prehistory—a time when different human populations met, exchanged ideas, and created shared traditions despite their physical differences. What began as a simple archaeological survey has evolved into a profound reconsideration of what it means to be human, showing that cultural connections can transcend biological boundaries.