The Diverse Human Family: Six Ancient Species and the Complex Path of Our Evolution

New Scientist overturns the traditional linear view of human evolution, presenting a branching family tree of multiple hominin species that shared the planet with Homo sapiens. The video introduces six ancient human species, from the well-known Neanderthals to the enigmatic Denisovans, Floresiensis, Heidelbergensis, Naledi, and Homo erectus, highlighting interbreeding, tool use, fire, burial rituals, island dwarfism, and surprising cognitive abilities. It argues that many traits we consider uniquely human were borrowed from earlier cousins and that ancient interbreeding has shaped modern DNA and disease resistance. The piece blends fossil discoveries with DNA data to illuminate why we are the last surviving human species and what remains of our extended family today.

Introduction: Rethinking human evolution

The video challenges the familiar march of progress imagery, arguing that for most of our history there were many human species on Earth at once. It frames human evolution as a process of diversification and occasional interbreeding rather than a simple linear ladder.

Key species and their roles

Six ancient human species are spotlighted: Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis), Denisovans, Floresiensis (the Hobbit), Homo erectus, Homo Heidelbergensis, and Homo naledi. Each is described in terms of appearance, behavior, tool use, and where they lived, illustrating a web of overlapping timelines across Africa, Europe, Asia, and islands in Southeast Asia.

Interbreeding and genetic legacies

The narrative emphasizes ancient interbreeding events that left a lasting imprint on modern humans, including Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA found in people outside sub-Saharan Africa and a Denisovan contribution to high-altitude adaptation in Tibetans. The video reframes what it means to be human by highlighting shared genomes rather than isolated lineages.

Debates and open questions

There is no single answer to why Homo sapiens survived while others vanished. The discussion covers competing hypotheses about extinction, competition, climate, and possible alliances, underscoring the ongoing debates in paleoanthropology.

Surprising traits and the need for new narratives

Traits once thought uniquely human are shown to have roots in earlier species, including cognitive complexity, fire mastery, and even ritual behaviors such as burial. The video ends by suggesting that the extended human family still has stories to tell as new discoveries emerge.