Stephen Beech

Archaeological excavations at Üçağızlı II Cave in southern Turkey reveal evidence that early modern humans and Neanderthals lived together, used the same stone tool technologies, and collected identical non‑utilitarian seashells, suggesting cultural exchange over more than 20,000 years. The findings, published in PNAS, indicate deep symbolic interaction between the species and help fill a major gap in understanding human migration and coexistence between Africa and Eurasia.