Molecular analysis of Neanderthal DNA from the northern Caucasus

The expansion of premodern humans into western and eastern Europe similar t o 40,000 years before the present led to the eventual replacement of the Ne anderthals by modern humans similar to 28,000 years ago(1). Here we report the second mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis of a Neanderthal, and the fir st such analysis on clearly dated Neanderthal remains. The specimen is from one of the eastern-most Neanderthal populations, recovered from Mezmaiskay a Cave in the northern Caucasus(2). Radiocarbon dating estimated the specim en to be similar to 29,000 years old and therefore from one of the latest l iving Neanderthals(3). The sequence shows 3.48% divergence from the Feldhof er Neanderthal(4). Phylogenetic analysis places the two Neanderthals from t he Caucasus and western Germany together in a clade that is distinct from m odern humans, suggesting that their mtDNA types have not contributed to the modern human mtDNA pool. Comparison with modern populations provides no ev idence for the multiregional hypothesis of modern human evolution.