New research on the genome of the last Neanderthals challenges previous theories about their extinction. The study reveals that Neanderthals died out around the same time that modern humans arrived in their territory, but the exact reasons for their disappearance remain debated. Archaeological findings from Grotte Mandrin, a cave in France, suggest that Neanderthals and modern humans coexisted and even shared territories and resources. The research also uncovers evidence of isolated Neanderthal populations that persisted until the end, with limited interaction and interbreeding with modern humans. The complex and gradual nature of Neanderthal extinction suggests that it was not caused by a single catastrophic event. [Extracted from the article]

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