These are contentious. It could be archaic homo sapiens. Previously these cave populations had been interpreted in a manner to suggest that modern humans came after Neandertals and so were descended from them. The new dating indicates that modern humans and Neandertals may have existed side by side and that they apparently maintained their distinctiveness for thousands of years. The only other early modern human fossils are found in southern Africa, and are also dated, though less accurately, at one hundred thousand years of age.
Modern man predates Neanderthal only in the Middle East.
The Middle East is central geographically and it would be expected the European Neandertals would have originated there or migrated through there on their way to Europe. In this case Neandertals should predate modern humans in the Middle East and not in Europe. The evidence suggests that anatomically modern humans originated in Africa about 150-120 kya then migrated north to the Middle East, and Neandertals originated in Europe then migrated south to the Middle East, and they both met in Israel. Ross has been quite clear and consistent in his view that, human spiritual. The point is emphasized by repetition.