At https://phys.org/news/2026-03-europe-late-neanderthals-descended-population.html … a new DNA analysis of European Neanderthals has found genetic evidence of another mass die-off event. Around 75,000 years ago. In the past this date has been associated with a massive Indonesian volcanic blow-out but this is not mentioned here. Only that the climate became extremely cold for a few thousand years. The shift in climate is thought to have led to a refugia population located in SW France. They were then let loose as climate improved 65,000 years ago. Anyone see any problems here? First of all the Ice Age itself is thought to have lasted 100,000 years ago in the Milankovitch scenario but here they are saying it became colder at the end of the last Interglacal, improved a bit and then got exceedingly colder 75,000 years ago, and then warmed up 65,000 years ago – until the Laschamp event around 42,000 years ago, that decimated Neanderthal populations, only for the Late Glacial Maximum to kick in around 33,000 years ago. Something is not quite right in the uniformitarian model. Either Ice Ages did not last 100,000 years in duration – or their descent into cold weather is grossly exaggerated. For the full paper go to https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2520565123 …However, the DNA was restricted to mitochondrial [the female side] which is apparently easier to extract. They focussed on ten individuals from 6 different sites [in Belgium, France, Germany and Serbia]. They were analysed alongside 49 other previously published samples of Neanderthal mtDNA. It is the dating I have focussed on as only male DNA can perhaps contradict the genetic findings – if it is ever available. The 75,000 years ago date was originally associated with Mount Toba, a hypothetical super volcano, and was regarded as a bottleneck. It was then incorporated into genetic calculations based on an assumed rate of change over the centuries. However, if mutations are taken into account that calculation may be overrated and a lesser figure may belong to the later date of Laschamp. Did an influx of cosmic radiation lead to genetic mutations?
For the moment we can only assume the 75,000 years ago is supported by definite evidence of a very cold period of climate – in spite of the warming of the climate a few millennia afterwards. It has some similarities with the onset of the Late Glacial Maximum – and its fairly short status until 18,000 years ago. It too was followed by a warm period. The nagging thoughts that exist revolve around the dating processes involved. They could not use C14 methodology as that is impossible as the Laschamp event poses too much of an obstacle to overcome – representing a massive influx of radiation, and no doubt, C14. That is the recognised buffer zone. Or has been for years – until recently and the invention of a more benign system of dating by including other methodologies in the mix that pushed it back a few thousand years. That only created a buffer zone in a period when no such influx of cosmic radiation occurred – which means it was an artificial way of stretching the C14 record. In other words, the other methodologies were not exact – such as speleosperms, unlike C14 itself. Once it is recognised that C14 levels can be subject to irregular loading of the atmosphere a system to allow for this could be brought together – but knowing when magnetic excursions and the like occurred, and how frequently, would be one necessity, of several. Miyake events are another one to add to the mix.