The narrative of human settlement in Europe is a rich and complex tapestry dating back over 60,000 years. Yet, the ancestors of today's Europeans, genetically akin to the current populace, only emerged between 38,000 and 40,000 years ago, following a major climatic upheaval. This marked a significant demographic shift, as these new arrivals supplanted the pre-existing human ancestries in Europe.
The initial human migration from Africa to Europe occurred around 60,000 years ago. However, a severe climatic crisis 40,000 years ago, further worsened by the Campanian Ignimbrite super-eruption near modern-day Naples, Italy, disrupted their attempts to establish long-term settlements. This led to a temporary hiatus in human habitation until the advent of the next wave of settlers.
Dr. Eva-Maria Geigl from the Institut Jacques Monod at the Université Paris Cité and CNRS confirmed these new settlers were anatomically modern humans, present in Europe by at least 45,000 years ago. Genomic analyses of these early settlers revealed a diverse mix of populations, all exhibiting Neanderthal admixture. The only exception was individuals from Bacho Kiro in Bulgaria, who showed a genomic link to modern human populations, specifically those in East Asia.
Around 40,000 years ago, coinciding with the changing climatic and environmental conditions post the Campanian Ignimbrite super-eruption, these early ancestries vanished from Europe. This period marked the arrival of the genetic ancestors of contemporary Europeans. To elucidate this demographic transition, Dr. Geigl and her team analyzed genomes from two skull fragments from the Buran Kaya III site in Crimea, dating back to 36,000-37,000 years ago.
The team's analysis revealed a population turnover in Europe post 40,000 years ago, involving admixture with pre-existing human populations. This European ancestry not only persisted at Buran-Kaya III but was also evident in later Gravettian-associated populations of western Europe and Mesolithic Caucasus populations.
The Gravettian culture, known for creating female figurines called Venuses, flourished in Europe between 31,000 and 23,000 years ago. Stone tools discovered at the Buran Kaya III site bear a striking similarity to Gravettian assemblages, suggesting that the individuals from Buran-Kaya III contributed both genetically and technologically to the population that later gave rise to this civilization.
This groundbreaking research, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution on October 23, 2023, not only elucidates the identity of the first modern humans to permanently settle in Europe but also unravels the intricate interplay of genetic and cultural influences that shaped early European human history.
In essence, the saga of human settlement in Europe is a tale of migration, survival, and adaptation. The individuals from Buran-Kaya III, with their unique genetic and cultural imprints, played a pivotal role in shaping the civilization that eventually birthed modern Europe. Their enduring legacy, encapsulated in their genomes and the tools they bequeathed, continues to offer invaluable insights into our shared human heritage.
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