Neanderthals shared maternal-line ancestors with modern humans more recently than previously thought13—the best current estimate is 470,000 to 360,000 years ago.14 Mitochondrial DNA analysis also confirmed that the Neanderthals were highly distinctive. Their DNA type was outside the range of present-day variation in humans, sharing a common ancestor with us at a date several times more ancient than the time when “Mitochondrial Eve” lived.15
