A new study examines the early migration of humans into Europe, focusing on 36,000-year-old skull fragments from Crimea. The findings link these early immigrants to the Gravetian culture, suggesting they played an important role in shaping early European civilization.

Before modern humans permanently settled in Europe, other human populations migrated from Africa to Europe about 60,000 years ago. However, they did not establish long-term settlements. About 40,000 years ago, a major climate crisis, coupled with a supereruption in the Ferregraienfeld volcanic region near present-day Naples, led to a decline in early European populations.

Skull fragment found in Buran Kaya III, Crimea, belonging to an individual about 37,000 years ago. Photo credit: Eva-MariaGeigl/IJM/CNRS

To determine who were the earliest modern humans to settle in Europe, a research team led by scientists from France's National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) analyzed the genomes of two skull fragments unearthed from the Buran Kaya III site in Crimea. The two skull fragments were dated to 36,000 and 37,000 years ago respectively.

By comparing them to DNA sequences in the Human Genome Database, they discovered genetic affinities between these people and present-day and ancient Europeans, particularly those related to the Gravetti culture, known for its production of female statues known as "Venus" and whose heyday in Europe was between 31,000 and 23,000 years ago.

The stone tools found at Buran Kaya III are also similar to some artifacts from the Graveti culture. Thus, the individuals studied here contributed genetically and technologically to the populations that gave rise to this civilization some 5,000 years later. The study, published October 23 in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, documents the first arrival of European ancestors.

Reference: "Genome sequence of modern humans from 36,000 to 37,000 years ago in the Buran-Kaya III region of Crimea" published by E. Andrew Bennett, Oğuzhan Parasayan, Sandrine Prat, Stéphane Péan, Laurent Crépin, Alexandr Yanevich, Thierry Grange and Eva-Maria Geigl on October 23, 2023, "Nature - Ecology and Evolution".

DOI:10.1038/s41559-023-02211-9

Compiled from:ScitechDaily