Our direct ancestors, Homo sapiens, may have ventured into Neanderthal territory in Europe much earlier than previously thought, according to an archaeological study published this week. Researchers also believe that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens may have alternately shared territory in southeastern France.
Up to now, archaeological discoveries have suggested that Neanderthals disappeared from the European continent about 40,000 years ago, shortly after the arrival of their "cousins", Homo sapiens.
