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Apr 12, 2026 59 min

Homo Sapiens vs Neanderthals

from The Ancients

Tristan Hughes is joined by Ella Al-Shamahi, paleoanthropologist and presenter of the hit BBC series Human, to explore what interactions between early Homo sapiens and Neanderthals may have been like, from communication and cultural exchange to interbreeding and the possibility of hybrid children navigating belonging. They discuss how new research is challenging “primitive” stereotypes to reveal how Neanderthals were complex beings who used pigments, pierced shells, talons, feathers, and created cave handprints. MORE The Last Neanderthals with Chris Stringer Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Rise of Humans Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Watch this episode on our NEW YouTube channel: @TheAncientsPodcast Presented by Tristan Hughes. The producer is Joseph Knight. Edited & co-produced by Aidan Lonergan. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds The Ancients is a History Hit podcast. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

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Homo Sapiens vs Neanderthals

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This episode was published on April 12, 2026.

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