Researchers Use New Methods to Date Ancient Skeleton

01Scientists have dated the ancient skeleton of a child that drew a lot of attention because it appeared to have both human and Neanderthal qualities.

02The nearly complete skeleton, first discovered 27 years ago in central Portugal, was red in color.

03Scientists think it may have been wrapped in a painted animal skin before burial.

04When the remains were discovered, scientists noted that some of the bone structure looked Neanderthal.

05The researchers suggested that the child's ancestors came from populations in which humans and Neanderthals mated and mixed.

06The idea was radical at that time.

07But progress in genetics has since shown those mixed populations existed, and people today still carry Neanderthal genetic material, or DNA.

08But scientists have had trouble learning when exactly the child lived.

09They were not able to use traditional carbon dating on the bones due to corruption of the remains by plants or other sources.

10Instead, researchers dated some charcoal and animal bones around the skeleton to between 27,700 and 29,700 years ago.

11However, dating techniques have since improved.

12Researchers reported recently in the publication Science Advances that they dated the skeleton by measuring part of a protein found mainly in human bones.

13Examining part of a crushed arm, researchers found that the earlier estimate was close.

14They report the skeleton is from between 27,700 and 28,600 years ago.

15Bethan Linscott of the University of Miami is a study writer.

16Linscott told the Associated Press, AP, Being able to successfully date the child felt like giving them back a tiny piece of their story.

17She described the research experience as a privilege, meaning an honor.

18Linscott noted that the first discovery was of more than just a skeleton, but also a burial site of a young child.

19When dating the bones, she said she could not help but wonder who loved the child, what made them laugh, and what their world looked like in the short four years they walked the planet.

20Paul Pettit is an archaeologist at Durham University in England who was not involved in the study.

21He told the AP that the study is an example of how dating methods are becoming more effective and helping scientists better understand the past.

22The study of where humans came from is important for the same reason we keep the portraits of our parents and grandparents, said study writer João Zilão of the University of Lisbon.

23It's a way of remembering, the archaeologist said.

24I'm John Russell.

25I'm John Russell.

26I'm John Russell.

27I'm John Russell.