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Did European humans and Neanderthals live at the same time?
Image source, BART MAAT
New research suggests modern humans and Neanderthals lived at the same time in France and Northern Spain for nearly 3,000 years.
It's not know whether, or how much, the two groups interacted - but the study hopes to discover more about how they both lived.
By looking at fossils that date back to the time, archaeologists can work out more about early life.
They found stone knives - which were a modern human tool - appearing in a similar timeline to evidence of Neanderthals.
Back in time
Image source, Getty Images
The researchers think they found some objects that were used by Neanderthals around 45,000 years ago, which then disappeared around 39,000 years ago.
By looking at Neanderthal remains they think Neanderthals became extinct around 40,000 years ago.
They think modern humans appeared around 42,000 years ago.
Image source, Igor Djakovic Leiden University
This means there's a lot of time where the two groups could have existed together - these experts suggest up to 2,900 years!
However, they still don't have enough evidence to see if they interacted at all.
Digging for clues
The researchers looking for evidence in France and Northern Spain found knives - used by modern humans - which date back to a similar time to the Neanderthals.
They worked across 17 dig sites through France and Northern Spain.
It's thought lots of Neanderthals lived in woodland areas in Spain.
Image source, Mike Kemp
By using special methods - and comparing to similar finds from the same time - they can work out when they think these objects were used.
Neanderthals used other tools as well - including spears, and axes made from flint.
Bones and stones
Image source, Getty Images
By looking at human bones that date back to that time, researchers can also work out how people lived their lives.
For example, lots of bone damage could suggest lots of risky hunting, or battles - means they lived quite a tough life!
However, it is very difficult for them to work out exactly where different groups of Neanderthals or modern humans lived.
This is why they can only work out that they lived at a similar time to each other, but will have to keep looking for clues to see if they ever met or interacted!