The Neanderthal “love story” isn’t what the DNA actually shows

Article excerpt

Claims that Neanderthal men "preferred" Homo sapiens women may make for catchy headlines, but the underlying research does not actually show prehistoric romance. The genetic evidence only points to an uneven pattern of DNA inheritance, which could have been shaped by biology, migration, or social organization. Archaeological evidence suggests Neanderthal groups may have followed traditions where women moved between communities, opening the door to far more complicated explanations than simple attraction.