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A new study analyzing the 140,000-year-old Skhūl I skull from Israel challenges its classification. Using CT scans, researchers found a blend of Neanderthal and Homo sapiens features, suggesting a potential hybrid or a distinct group. The study highlights the skull's complex morphology, particularly its inner ear structure and skull base. While DNA analysis could provide definitive answers, the risk of damaging this unique specimen remains a significant hurdle. The lack of special burial treatment suggests potentially egalitarian early human social structures.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.