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"The Last Refuge: Neanderthals' Final Stand in Gibraltar (c. 30,000 BCE)"
By around 30,000 BCE, the last known populations of Homo neanderthalensis—the Neanderthals—had disappeared from the European continent. Their final stronghold was the southern tip of Iberia, particularly the region of Gibraltar, where a combination of temperate climate and abundant resources allowed them to persist longer than in harsher northern environments.
Gibraltar's caves, such as Gorham's Cave and Vanguard Cave, provided shelter and strategic advantages for Neanderthal groups. Archaeological evidence suggests they exploited marine resources, hunted local game, and used fire—demonstrating adaptability. The Mediterranean climate may have buffered them from the extreme glacial conditions that made survival difficult elsewhere in Europe.
Meanwhile, Homo sapiens (modern humans) had been migrating into Europe from Africa and the Near East for thousands of years. By 40,000-30,000 BCE, they had spread across the continent, bringing advanced tools, symbolic art, and possibly competitive advantages in social organization or hunting strategies. Whether through direct conflict, competition for resources, or gradual assimilation, Neanderthals dwindled in number.
Though they vanished as a distinct species, Neanderthals left a genetic legacy—modern non-African populations carry 1-4% Neanderthal DNA. Their survival in Gibraltar until 30,000 BCE marks the end of a remarkable human lineage that had thrived in Europe for over 300,000 years.
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