A new study suggests that Neanderthals may have survived in a remote part of Russia until as recently as 40,000 years ago. This is much later than the previously believed extinction date of Neanderthals, which was around 30,000 years ago.

The study was conducted by an international team of researchers led by Dr. Ludovic Orlando of the University of Copenhagen. The team analyzed DNA from the remains of two Neanderthals who were found in the Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains of Siberia.

The DNA analysis showed that the two Neanderthals were closely related to each other and that they lived around 40,000 years ago. This is the latest date for Neanderthals that has ever been found outside of the Iberian Peninsula.

The researchers believe that the Denisova Cave may have been a refuge for Neanderthals who were fleeing the advancing ice sheets during the last glacial period. The cave is located in a relatively mild climate, and it contains a wealth of resources, including food and water.

The study suggests that Neanderthals may have survived for longer than previously thought and that they may have come into contact with modern humans in Siberia. This contact may have led to the exchange of genes between the two species.

The findings of the study are published in the journal Nature.