Which Homo species is believed to have coexisted with early Homo sapiens?

The belief that Homo neanderthalensis, commonly known as Neanderthals, coexisted with early Homo sapiens is supported by a substantial body of evidence, including archaeological findings and genetic studies. Neanderthals inhabited Europe and parts of Asia and are believed to have lived alongside early modern humans for several thousand years, particularly in the Late Pleistocene era.

This coexistence is significant because it suggests that the two species may have interacted, possibly sharing territory, resources, and even interbreeding, which has been confirmed through genetic data indicating that non-African modern human populations carry Neanderthal DNA. This complex relationship deepens our understanding of human evolution and the dynamics between different hominin species.

While Homo erectus, Homo heidelbergensis, and Homo floresiensis are important hominins in our evolutionary history, they either existed earlier in time or did not overlap significantly with the timeline of early Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. Therefore, when considering species associated with early Homo sapiens, Neanderthals are the most recognized group for their contemporaneous existence with modern humans.