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Early dispersal of modern humans in Europe and implications for Neanderthal behaviour

Author

Listed:
  • Stefano Benazzi

    (University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14)

  • Katerina Douka

    (Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit, Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, University of Oxford, Dyson Perrins Building)

  • Cinzia Fornai

    (University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14)

  • Catherine C. Bauer

    (Paleoanthropology, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Rümelnstrasse 23)

  • Ottmar Kullmer

    (Senckenberg Research Institute Frankfurt, Senckenberganlage 25)

  • Jiří Svoboda

    (Institute of Archaeology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Královopolská 147
    Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Vinarˇská 5)

  • Ildikó Pap

    (Hungarian Natural History Museum, Ludovika tér 2-6)

  • Francesco Mallegni

    (University of Pisa, Via S. Maria 53)

  • Priscilla Bayle

    (UMR 5199 PACEA, Université Bordeaux 1, avenue des Facultés)

  • Michael Coquerelle

    (Paleoanthropology group, C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2)

  • Silvana Condemi

    (UMR 6578 CNRS/Aix Marseille/EFS, Laboratoire d’Anthropologie Bioculturelle, Faculté de Médecine/Secteur Nord, CS80011 Bd Pierre Dramard 13344)

  • Annamaria Ronchitelli

    (U.R. Prehistoric Ecology, University of Siena, via T. Pendola 62)

  • Katerina Harvati

    (Paleoanthropology, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Rümelnstrasse 23
    Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Paleoecology, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Rümelnstrasse 23)

  • Gerhard W. Weber

    (University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14)

Abstract

Early arrivals in Europe Anatomically modern humans are thought to have arrived in Europe 44,000–42,000 years ago. Physical evidence for early humans is scarce, and these dates are based largely on studies of stone tool assemblages. Two papers published this week use the latest radiocarbon dating and morphological analysis techniques to reassess museum hominid samples. Higham et al. examine a human maxilla from the Aurignacian site at Kent's Cavern in the United Kingdom, discovered in 1927 and previously dated at around 35,000 years old, and arrive at an age of 44,200–41,500 years. The dental morphology of the jawbone indicates that its attribution as early human, rather than Neanderthal, is reliable. Benazzi et al. reanalyse two teeth from the Uluzzian site Grotta del Cavallo in southern Italy and conclude that they are definitively modern, not Neanderthal, and date to 45,000–43,000 years old. A further conclusion from this work is that the Uluzzian culture of southern Europe — always found stratigraphically below the Aurignacian signature culture of the modern humans — may represent the earliest modern humans in Europe rather than the last Neanderthals.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefano Benazzi & Katerina Douka & Cinzia Fornai & Catherine C. Bauer & Ottmar Kullmer & Jiří Svoboda & Ildikó Pap & Francesco Mallegni & Priscilla Bayle & Michael Coquerelle & Silvana Condemi & Annam, 2011. "Early dispersal of modern humans in Europe and implications for Neanderthal behaviour," Nature, Nature, vol. 479(7374), pages 525-528, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:479:y:2011:i:7374:d:10.1038_nature10617
    DOI: 10.1038/nature10617
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    Cited by:

    1. Daniela Jansen & Steven Franke & Catherine C. Bauer & Tobias Binder & Dorthe Dahl-Jensen & Jan Eichler & Olaf Eisen & Yuanbang Hu & Johanna Kerch & Maria-Gema Llorens & Heinrich Miller & Niklas Neckel, 2024. "Shear margins in upper half of Northeast Greenland Ice Stream were established two millennia ago," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Kobayashi, Yutaka & Aoki, Kenichi, 2012. "Innovativeness, population size and cumulative cultural evolution," Theoretical Population Biology, Elsevier, vol. 82(1), pages 38-47.
    3. 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.

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