"At this time, the geneticists decided to calibrate their own tools and to change everything we knew about all Neanderthals," said archaeologist Ludovic Slimak, lead author of the study. This decision to reassess previous assumptions about Neanderthal lineage has significant implications for understanding Neanderthal diversity and extinction. By re-evaluating Thorin's age, researchers uncovered a previously unknown Neanderthal lineage, indicating the complexity of Neanderthal populations which likely contributed toward their eventual decline."
The research surrounding Thorin highlights a critical shift in our understanding of Neanderthal genetic diversity. The finding that he belonged to a distinct lineage, diverging from other known groups, suggests that there were more nuanced populations of Neanderthals intermingling than previously thought. This genetic variety may help explain their struggle for survival and adaptation against the prevailing modern humans during their time.
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