Did you know that there were once several Neanderthal groups, but only some of them encountered modern humans and had offspring? This means some people today still carry a fraction of the original Neanderthal genome.
The Neanderthals were the first truly pan-European human population. Traces of them span more than 250,000 years and can be found across Europe. However, until recently, our understanding of them was fragmented: different countries had their own datasets, and scientists specialising in archaeology, anthropology, genetics and geology often worked in isolation.
To unite this knowledge, the COST Action ‘Integrating Neanderthal Legacy: From Past to Present’ (iNEAL) brought together experts from across the continent. They shared data, aligned their research methods, and created a more complete picture of who the Neanderthals were and how they lived.

“The Action developed a shared database and research guidelines, helping researchers across Europe work with the same standards”, explained Professor Ivor Janković, Chair of the Action from the Institute for Anthropological Research in Croatia.

A major result was the Catalogue of Neandertal Sites, listing 127 archaeological sites across the continent. “This publication is already being used by scholars”, said Ivor Janković. “And we’re committed to continuing data collection for a future update that will serve as a starting point for all Neanderthal research.”

But iNEAL went further. Recognising that Neanderthal heritage is also a cultural legacy, it connected scientists with museum professionals, educators, and the tourism sector. Workshops at the Neanderthal Museum in Mettmann, Germany, and the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb explored how to bring prehistory to different audiences.
“There is not just one public”, said Ivor. “Each group has its own way of engaging with the past. Our aim is to teach local children and adults alike about their own legacy and its importance. That is the best way to preserve and protect these sites.”
To help smaller institutions, iNEAL produced free posters and teaching materials about Neanderthal life and legacy. The team also created an Education Kit and Guidelines for Best Practices to help teachers adapt the story of Neanderthals to local languages and cultures.

The collaboration built through iNEAL laid the foundation for new research and major funding. One direct result was the ERC Synergy Grant ‘LAST NEANDERTHALS: The physical, cultural, and bio-genetic landscape of the last Neanderthals’, worth nearly €10 million.

“The iNEAL Action played a significant role in laying the groundwork for the ERC Synergy Grant.”

Prof. Ivor Janković, Chair of iNEAL Action

The project combines cutting-edge techniques such as radiometric dating, ancient DNA analysis, and computer simulations to explore how Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens interacted, and what finally caused Neanderthals to disappear.

“The iNEAL Action played a significant role in laying the groundwork for the ERC Synergy Grant, said Ivor. It started collaborations across Croatia, Montenegro, the Czech Republic, and Turkey and provided valuable experience in communicating science to the public.”
iNEAL’s interdisciplinary spirit also empowered young researchers to launch their own projects. One example is Dr Pere Gelabert, who participated in iNEAL’s Working Group on paleogenomics. His experience in the Action helped him secure the ERC Starting Grant ‘SHADOWS’.

“As a biologist, it was a wonderful opportunity to enter into archaeological questions and broaden my perspective”, said Pere. “In SHADOWS, we now want to understand why sedimentary DNA differs from the animal bones we find at Palaeolithic sites and what that tells us about how humans, Neanderthals, and animals interacted.”

“As a biologist, it was a wonderful opportunity to enter into archaeological questions and broaden my perspective.”

Dr Pere Gelabert, Action working group member, ERC Starting Grantee

Continuing the legacy: COST as a catalyst

Beyond its scientific results, the Action iNEAL also created an environment where ideas could grow into major projects and long-term collaborations.
“Fruitful discussions among scientists from traditionally humanistic fields and those from hard sciences created a unique setting to look at the same issues through different lenses”, concluded the Chair.

Through its open, inclusive and collaborative approach, iNEAL showed how COST serves as a stepping stone, helping researchers build trust, test new ideas, and prepare the ground for high-impact initiatives such as ERC grants.

Additional information

Action website

Network website