46,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Hand Bones Containing DNA Discovered in Spain
- Archaeologists in northern Spain have recovered ancient DNA from six Neanderthal hand bone fragments dated to approximately 46,000 years ago, according to an announcement by the Government of...
- The recovery yields direct radiocarbon dates and genetic material from an adult male, offering new data on a population previously unrepresented by skeletal remains in this part of...
- The excavation team found that the metacarpals preserve portions of their central shafts, while carnivore activity removed the articular ends, as confirmed by taphonomic analysis.
Archaeologists in northern Spain have recovered ancient DNA from six Neanderthal hand bone fragments dated to approximately 46,000 years ago, according to an announcement by the Government of Navarre. The fossils, discovered in Abauntz Cave, mark the first time researchers have identified Neanderthal remains within the region of Navarre.
The recovery yields direct radiocarbon dates and genetic material from an adult male, offering new data on a population previously unrepresented by skeletal remains in this part of the western Pyrenees. Specialists combined protein analysis, genetics, and direct radiocarbon dating to confirm the identity and age of the bones.
Abauntz Cave Discovery Yields Rare Genetic Material
The excavation team found that the metacarpals preserve portions of their central shafts, while carnivore activity removed the articular ends, as confirmed by taphonomic analysis. The same stratigraphic layer contained stone tools and animal bones bearing cut marks from butchering, showing that human groups utilized the cave for daily work and food processing.
María Chivite presented the findings during an October 19, 2026, government event. The discovery adds to regional finds that include the Loizu Man, the Hand of Irulegi, and a bison artifact found at Urbasa.
Research Collaboration and Scientific Methods
More than 25 specialists now take part in the Abauntz research project, which is initiated by IPHES-CERCA and includes personnel from CENIEH and the Instituto de Arqueología de Mérida. Work on dating, protein analysis, and DNA sequencing is handled by the University of Vienna and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig.
Andion Arteaga, who co-directs the project, described the fossils as the first direct proof of Neanderthals in Navarre. Mikel Arlegi, the other co-director, emphasized that pairing DNA extraction with direct radiocarbon dating provides the key strength for the find.
Broader Archaeological Context in Northern Spain
Abauntz Cave sits along a natural route between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe. Neanderthals inhabited various parts of the continent 46,000 years ago before disappearing around 40,000 years ago amid the expansion of Homo sapiens.
Other northern Spanish sites have yielded extensive Neanderthal remains, including El Sidrón in Asturias, where researchers uncovered more than 2,500 bone fragments from at least 13 individuals who lived about 49,000 years ago. Excavations at Abauntz resumed in 2022 after a hiatus of nearly three decades, focusing on recovering and extending the original surface from the 1990s.
Ongoing Genetic Analysis and Future Excavations
Researchers are still running genetic analysis on the Abauntz fragments. Scientists aim to determine whether the individual’s DNA links him to the Neanderthal populations of Asturias or to groups located on the opposite side of the Pyrenees.
A new dig season is currently underway at the cave site with support from the Government of Navarre, the Ultzama Valley Town Council, the Arraitz-Orkin Local Council, and the Palarq Foundation.