The genetic data from Neanderthal specimens across Europe and Asia shows that Neanderthal populations maintained connections across large geographic areas, with gene flow occurring between groups that lived thousands of kilometers apart.

At the same time, there was population structure — regional differences that suggest different Neanderthal groups were not simply one undifferentiated community.

The Zagros Neanderthals represented by the Shanidar remains were part of this network.

While their specific genetic affinities with other Neanderthal populations are not known — because, as noted above, no ancient DNA has been recovered from the Shanidar remains — the patterns documented from other sites suggest that their community was not genetically isolated.

This matters for interpreting the behavioral evidence from Shanidar.