When researchers found a fossilized jawbone from a late (about 43,000-45,000 years ago)Italian Neanderthal,they noted that the shape of the jawbone suggested the individual had an intermediate chin instead of no chin like most Neanderthals.This would provide evidence supporting which of the following hypotheses?

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The presence of an intermediate chin in the Neanderthal fossil from Italy suggests that the individual had some genetic influence from modern Homo sapiens, who are known to have an intermediate chin. Therefore, option C, which suggests that interbreeding between modern humans and Neanderthals occurred on the Italian peninsula, is the best choice. Options A and B are less likely as Homo habilis lived much earlier than Neanderthals, and there is no evidence of their coexistence. Option D is also less likely as modern humans did not appear until much later than the Neanderthals in Africa.

When Researchers Found a Fossilized Jawbone from a Late (About