The study reveals a complex demographic history for Late Neanderthals, marked by a population contraction followed by re-expansion, ultimately leading to an almost complete replacement of mtDNA lineages across Europe. Although only the generation of additional Neanderthal nuclear genomes will determine the extent of this population turnover, the integration of mitochondrial genomes with archaeological evidence offers crucial insights into the timing and geographic context of the events that shaped the genetic makeup of Late Neanderthals.

Archaeogenetic insights into the demographic history of Late Neanderthals | PNAS