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Along a stream in Tajikistan , archaeologists have come across a rock - shelter that may have been a migration land site forNeanderthals , Denisovansandmodern humansover a twain of 130,000 eld .
Archaeologists have long bang that advanced humans and our near relatives trek through the so - called Inner Asian Mountain Corridor ( IAMC ) of Central Asia during the Stone Age . Over the years , researchers have investigated the remains of Neanderthals and grounds of Denisovans and modern humans in this region , " making the IAMC a position where the three human metapopulations could have met and interacted , " researcher write in a raw cogitation , release Nov. 4 in the journalAntiquity .
Archaeologists unearthed stone tools and animal bones that had been at the site for more than 100,000 years.
However , this " this area is still relatively under explored , " they summate .
" This region may have assist as a migration route for several human species , such as modernHomo sapiens , Neanderthals , or Denisovans , which may have coexist in this area , " study first authorYossi Zaidner , a older lecturer at the Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem , say in a statement . " Our research aims to uncover who were the humans that inhabit these parts of the Central Asia and the nature of their interactions . "
To enquire , Zaidner and colleagues look for Stone Age sites along the Zeravshan River , a major river in Central Asia . They end up unearthing two Stone Age sites with multiple stratum , indicating that different humans had occupied these spot at dissimilar time .
The archaeological site is close to the Zeravshan River, a major route on the Silk Road during the Middle Ages.
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In 2023 , the squad excavate one of these sites , nominate Soii Havzak , which is locate along a belittled confluent of the Zeravshan River . They dig three trenches there , revealing a various array of stone tool ; include craft flint , blades and rock flake ; animal bones ; and charcoal and burn flints that pointed to ancient fire habit that date to between 150,000 and 20,000 class ago .
" We hope that on-going enquiry at this site will reveal new insights into how different human groups — like mod human being , Neanderthals and Denisovans — may have interact in this region , " Zaidner aver . " This discovery is a substantial step toward understand ancient human history in Central Asia . "
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Ancient human beings were n’t the only individual who enjoyed this realm . The river valley would eventually become a major route on the Silk Road , link up civilizations likeChinaand theRoman Empireacross continents , according to the statement .
There is still much to be learned about the interactions between unlike human species during theMiddle Paleolithic , which endure from about 300,000 to 30,000 long time ago . This archaeologic site demonstrate a alone chance to investigate how modern humans and their close relation may have interact . The landscape painting of the Zeravshan Valley may have serve as a significant migration area for human populations , including the spreadhead of earlyHomo sapiensfrom Africa into Asia during this time , according to the statement .
