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The Persian plateau served as hub for Homo sapiens after the main out of Africa dispersal

Author

Listed:
  • Leonardo Vallini

    (University of Padova)

  • Carlo Zampieri

    (University of Padova)

  • Mohamed Javad Shoaee

    (Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology)

  • Eugenio Bortolini

    (University of Bologna)

  • Giulia Marciani

    (University of Bologna
    University of Siena)

  • Serena Aneli

    (University of Turin)

  • Telmo Pievani

    (University of Padova)

  • Stefano Benazzi

    (University of Bologna)

  • Alberto Barausse

    (University of Padova
    University of Padova)

  • Massimo Mezzavilla

    (University of Padova)

  • Michael D. Petraglia

    (Human Origins Program, Smithsonian Institution
    The University of Queensland
    Griffith University)

  • Luca Pagani

    (University of Padova
    University of Tartu)

Abstract

A combination of evidence, based on genetic, fossil and archaeological findings, indicates that Homo sapiens spread out of Africa between ~70-60 thousand years ago (kya). However, it appears that once outside of Africa, human populations did not expand across all of Eurasia until ~45 kya. The geographic whereabouts of these early settlers in the timeframe between ~70-60 to 45 kya has been difficult to reconcile. Here we combine genetic evidence and palaeoecological models to infer the geographic location that acted as the Hub for our species during the early phases of colonisation of Eurasia. Leveraging on available genomic evidence we show that populations from the Persian Plateau carry an ancestry component that closely matches the population that settled the Hub outside Africa. With the paleoclimatic data available to date, we built ecological models showing that the Persian Plateau was suitable for human occupation and that it could sustain a larger population compared to other West Asian regions, strengthening this claim.

Suggested Citation

  • Leonardo Vallini & Carlo Zampieri & Mohamed Javad Shoaee & Eugenio Bortolini & Giulia Marciani & Serena Aneli & Telmo Pievani & Stefano Benazzi & Alberto Barausse & Massimo Mezzavilla & Michael D. Pet, 2024. "The Persian plateau served as hub for Homo sapiens after the main out of Africa dispersal," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-46161-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46161-7
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