Neanderthal

Biochemistry

Archaeology

Paleoanthropology

Biological evolution

Pleistocene

Evolutionary biology

Biology

Phylogenetics

Zoology

Gene

Geography

Clade

Paleontology

Hominidae

Genetics

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Significance The displacement of Neandertals by anatomically modern humans (AMHs) 50,000–40,000 y ago in Europe has considerable biological and behavioral implications. The Châtelperronian at the Grotte du Renne (France) takes a central role in models explaining the transition, but the association of hominin fossils at this site with the Châtelperronian is debated. Here we identify additional hominin specimens at the site through proteomic zooarchaeology by mass spectrometry screening and obtain molecular (ancient DNA, ancient proteins) and chronometric data to demonstrate that these represent Neandertals that date to the Châtelperronian. The identification of an amino acid sequence specific to a clade within the genus Homo demonstrates the potential of palaeoproteomic analysis in the study of hominin taxonomy in the Late Pleistocene and warrants further exploration.

Palaeoproteomic evidence identifies archaic hominins associated with the Châtelperronian at the Grotte du Renne