Early Upper Paleolithic colonization across Europe: Time and mode of the Gravettian diffusion

PLoS One. 2017 May 24;12(5):e0178506. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178506. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

This study presents new models on the origin, speed and mode of the wave-of-advance leading to the definitive occupation of Europe's outskirts by Anatomically Modern Humans, during the Gravettian, between c. 37 and 30 ka ago. These models provide the estimation for possible demic dispersal routes for AMH at a stable spread rate of c. 0.7 km/year, with the likely origin in Central Europe at the site of Geissenklosterle in Germany and reaching all areas of the European landscape. The results imply that: 1. The arrival of the Gravettian populations into the far eastern European plains and to southern Iberia found regions with very low human occupation or even devoid of hominins; 2. Human demography was likely lower than previous estimates for the Upper Paleolithic; 3. The likely early AMH paths across Europe followed the European central plains and the Mediterranean coast to reach to the ends of the Italian and Iberian peninsulas.

Publication types

  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Europe
  • History, Ancient
  • Hominidae
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Neanderthals
  • Population Dynamics / history*
  • Radiometric Dating

Grants and funding

We would like to thank the Portuguese Science Foundation (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia), National Geographic Society, and Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research for funding field and laboratory work at the site of Vale Boi, Algarve, Portugal, as well to Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia for doctoral and postdoctoral grants to Cascalheira and Gonçalves. (PT—http://www.fct.pt/), SFRH/BPD/96277/2013 and UID/ARQ/04211/2013). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.