Eastern Neanderthals, or the meeting of regional Neanderthals with ancestors of modern humans. The mandible from Mala Balanica is the easternmost hominin specimen in Europe dated to the Middle Pleistocene. Inferences drawn from the morphology place it outside currently observed variation of European Homo heidelbergensis. The lack of derived Neandertal traits, comparison to the contemporary specimens in Southeast Europe, like Kocabaş, Vasogliano and Ceprano, and coupled with Middle Pleistocene synapomorphies, suggest different evolutionary forces shaped ancient residents in the east of the continent where isolation did not play such an important role during glaciations. Excavations are ongoing in both caves, as the bedrock still has not been reached. The hominin remains are curated at the National Museum of Serbia in Belgrade. Protection The Government of Serbia made a decision No. 05 633–27622012 on 10 May 2022 to place the caves under the protection as "Locality of Velika and Mala Balanica in Sićevo". They were declared an official archaeological site and immovable cultural monument. The decision was published in the State Gazette No. 50/12 on 18 May. It was registered in the local register of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Niš on 28 May 2012 (designation AN 53), with the institute being placed in charge of the administration over the protected area. The monument was inducted in the state register of cultural monuments on 17 August 2012, under the designation AN 165. See also Pešturina References Sources Caves of Serbia Nišava District Prehistoric sites in Serbia Archaeological sites in Serbia Protected Archaeological Sites Paleolithic Neanderthal sites Homo heidelbergensis fossils Mousterian 2004 archaeological discoveries