Early history of Neanderthals and Denisovans.

Abstract

Extensive DNA sequence data have made it possible to reconstruct human evolutionary history in unprecedented detail. We introduce a method to study the past several hundred thousand years. Our results show that (<i>i</i>) the Neanderthal-Denisovan lineage declined to a small size just after separating from the modern lineage, (<i>ii</i>) Neanderthals and Denisovans separated soon thereafter, and (<i>iii</i>) the subsequent Neanderthal population was large and deeply subdivided. They also (<i>iv</i>) support previous estimates of gene flow from Neanderthals into modern Eurasians. These results suggest an archaic human diaspora early in the Middle Pleistocene.