An Unprecedented Archaeological Treasure Discovered by a Stream in Tajikistan, Where Three Different Human Species May Have Coexisted.
A group of archaeologists searching along the Zeravshan River in Tajikistan has uncovered a mysterious rock shelter that serves as a site for three different human species: Homo sapiens, Neanderthals, and Denisovans.
Homo sapiens refers to “modern humans,” which includes us. Meanwhile, the other two species are distant relatives in the genus Homo, which went extinct approximately 30,000 to 40,000 years ago.
For a long time, some DNA evidence within our own genomes has shown that these three human species coexisted and interbred at various stages.
Rare archaeological evidence supports this notion, including caves with traces of two of the three species and skeletal remains that exhibit distinct hybrid characteristics between the two.
Therefore, the mysterious rock shelter recently discovered by scientists near a stream within the Zeravshan river system in Tajikistan is particularly significant as it contains remains of all three aforementioned species.
Some stone tools excavated from the rock shelter – (Photo: HEBREW UNIVERSITY).
This site has been named Soii Havzak, and excavations began in 2023. To date, archaeologists have collected numerous stone tools, animal bones, and other artifacts indicating the activities of ancient humans.
According to a paper published in the journal Antiquity, preliminary assessments suggest that this rock shelter was chosen as a dwelling by humans as far back as 150,000 years ago, and various groups of people utilized it over a span of 130,000 years.
The evidence not only indicates traces of all three different species, but it also suggests they coexisted during certain periods.
“We hope that the ongoing research at this site will reveal new insights into how different groups of humans may have interacted in this region,” said Dr. Yossi Zaidner from the Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel, in an interview with Live Science.
Dr. Zaidner also explained that this rock shelter is located along a route known as the Inner Asian Mountain Corridor (IAMC), a popular migration path chosen by the three human species where they met and interacted.
Ancient humans were not the only individuals to select this area for passage.
This river valley later became part of the famous Silk Road, connecting multiple civilizations from China to the Roman Empire through vibrant trade activities.
