The Skhul/Qafzeh hominids or Qafzeh-Skhul early modern humans[1] are human fossils from Qafzeh and Es Skhul Caves, Israel. Skhul Cave is on the slopes of Mount Carmel, while Qafzeh Cave is a rockshelter in Lower Galilee. The remains are quite robust; exhibiting a mix of archaic and modern traits. They have been tentatively dated at about 80,000-120,000 years old using electron spin resonance and thermoluminescence dating techniques.[2] The brain case is similar to modern humans, but they possess brow ridges and a projecting facial profile, similar to the Neanderthals. They were initially regarded as transitional fossils between Neanderthals and modern humans. However, they are now regarded as a separate lineage from the Neanderthals, and may represent one of the first exodus of modern humans from Africa around 125,000 years ago.[3] Neanderthal remains have been found nearby at Kebara Cave that date to 61,000-48,000 years ago,[4] and it has been suggested that the Skhul/Qafzeh hominids had died out by 80,000 years ago because of drying conditions.[3] This would suggest that the two types of hominids never made contact in the region. Recent DNA analysis has revealed that “non-Africans” contain 1-4% Neanderthal genetic material and it has been suggested that hybridization took place in the Middle East.[5] However the Skhul/Qafzeh hominids showed “Neanderthal features” before the arrival of Neanderthals in the region, suggesting that the robust features of the Skhul/Qafzeh hominids represent archaic sapiens features, and that the hybridization between modern humans and Neanderthals may have taken place somewhere else. Furthermore it has been suggested that the Skhul/Qafzeh hominids represent an extinct lineage, and that modern humans again exited Africa around 70,000 years ago, crossing a narrow stretch of water between present day Eritrea and the Arabian Peninsula [3]. This hypothesis has some support on the discovery of modern human made tools with about 125.000 years at Jebel Faya, United Arab Emirates, in the Arabian Peninsula, from another previous exit from Africa attempt [6]. But in 2005, a set of 7 teeth from Tabun Cave in Israel were studied and found to most likely belong to a Neanderthal that may have lived around 90,000 years ago,[7] and another Neanderthal (C1) from Tabun was estimated to be ~122,000 years old.[8] If the dates are correct for these individuals, then it is possible that Neanderthals and early moderns did make contact in the region and it may be possible that the Skhul/Qafzeh hominids are partially of Neanderthal descent.
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The Skhul remains were discovered between 1929 and 1935 at a cave located at Es Skhul in Mount Carmel, Israel. The remains of seven adults and three children were found, some of which (Skhul;1,4,5 & 9) may have been deliberate burials.[9] Assemblages of perforated Nassarius shells (a marine species) significantly different from local fauna have also been recovered from the area, suggesting that these people may have collected and employed the shells symbolically as beads,[10] as they are unlikely to have been used as food.[11]
Skhul Layer B has been dated to an average of 81,000-101,000 years ago with the electron spin resonance method and to an average of 119,000 years ago with the thermoluminescence method.[12][13]
Skhul 5 was a burial with the mandible of a boar on the chest.[14] The skull displays prominent supraorbital ridges.
The Skhul 9 remains are both unique and controversial.[15] They appear to have a modern West African-looking skull[16] with archaic features, specifically mandibular prognathism (jutting lower jaw) and Supraorbital ridges (brow ridges).
Qafzeh cave opens onto a wall of Wadi el Hadj in the flank of Precipice Mountain. Excavation of the cave by René Neuville began in 1934 and resulted in the discovery of the remains of 5 individuals in the Mousterian levels, which was then called the Levalloiso-Mousterian.[17] (see Levallosian). The lower layers of the cave were later dated to 92,000 years ago,[18] and a series of hearths, several human graves, flint artifacts (side scrapers, disc cores, and points[19]), animal bones (gazelle, horse, fallow deer, wild ox, and rhinoceros[19]), a collection of sea shells, lumps of red ochre, and an incised cortical flake were found.[18] The marine shells (Glycymeris bivalves) were brought from Mediterranean Sea shore some 35 km away, and were recovered from layers earlier than most of the graves except for one burial.[18] The shells were complete, naturally perforated, and several showed traces of having been strung (perhaps as a necklace), and a few had ochre stains on them.[18] The remains of 15 hominids (8 of them children) were recovered in total from Qafzeh within a Mousterian archaeological context and dated to ca. 95,000 years ago.[20] Remains of Qafzeh; 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 15 were burials.[14]
The various layers at Qafzeh were dated to an average of 96,000-115,000 years ago with the electron spin resonance method and 92,000 years ago with the thermoluminescence method.[12]
The most well preserved skull. From the skull and teeth structure, the remains are believed to be of a young male. [21]
A double grave found in 1969 contained the skeleton of an adult (late adolescent), thought to be a young woman (Qafzeh 9), and the skeleton of a young child (Qafzeh 10).[17] Qafzeh 9 has a high forehead, lack of occipital bun, a distinct chin, but an orthognathic face.[22]
Found in 1971 was the grave of an adolescent (aged at about 13 years[23]) buried in a pit dug in the bed rock. The skeleton was lying on his back, with the legs bent to the side, and both hands placed on either side of the neck, and in his hands were the antlers of a large deer (Red Deer antler clasped to the chest[9]).[17]
A child of about 3 years old who manifests with skeletal abnormalities that indicate hydrocephalus.[20]
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