Scientists found that the North Caucasus was inhabited by Neanderthals

Russian archaeologists have determined that the North Caucasus was inhabited by Neanderthals on both sides. One group of ancient people came here from Eastern Europe and the other from Southwest Asia. 

According to the Russian Scientific Foundation, scientists from the ANO «Laboratory of Prehistory» (Saint Petersburg) explored two sites of Neanderthals. This is the Mezmayskaya cave, located in the North-West Caucasus near Maykop, and the grotto Saraj-Chuko in the Elbrus region. In the grotto, our ancient ancestors were most active during the period of warming - about 90 thousand years ago.

Our results indicate that in the Middle Paleolithic, two culturally different populations of Neanderthals came to the North Caucasus from two regions: the Armenian Highlands and the Lesser Caucasus on one side and Eastern Europe on the other. As a result, in this territory today we find archaeological finds of two different cultures, conventionally "western" and "eastern" which could contact and exchange tools», - told ANO «Laboratory of prehistory».

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