Artefacts hint at cultural exchange between Neanderthals and humans

Archaeological excavation of Üçağızlı II cave in Turkey revealed that Homo sapiens (59,000–47,000 years ago) and Neanderthals (77,000–59,000 years ago) left nearly 20,000 stone artifacts with remarkable consistency across layers, and both species collected approximately 30 intact shells of the sea snail Columbella rustica throughout all occupation periods—suggesting shared cultural values and possible coexistence or cultural transmission.

Direct temporal or physical overlap between the two species at the site has not been definitively proven; the evidence supports this as a plausible hypothesis rather than established fact.