A recent study delves into the early human migration to Europe, centering on the analysis of skull fragments from Crimea that are about 36,000 years old. These discoveries link these initial European settlers to the Gravettian culture, highlighting their crucial influence on the early development of European civilization.
Prior to the enduring settlement of modern humans in Europe, different human groups had migrated from Africa to Europe around 60,000 years ago, but these migrations didn’t lead to lasting settlements. A major climatic crisis around 40,000 years ago, combined with a super-eruption in the Phlegraean Fields volcanic area near today’s Naples, resulted in a decline in these early European populations.
A skull fragment discovered at the Buran Kaya III site in Crimea, estimated to be from an individual around 37,000 years old, is a significant find. Credit: Eva-Maria Geigl/IJM/CNRS
Unveiling the First Modern Human Settlers in Europe
To identify the initial modern human settlers who permanently inhabited Europe, a CNRS-led research team analyzed the genome of two skull fragments from the Buran Kaya III site in Crimea, which are dated to 36,000 and 37,000 years ago. Through a comparison with DNA sequences from various human genome databases, the study uncovered a genetic closeness between these early humans and both contemporary and ancient Europeans, particularly those linked to the Gravettian culture. This culture, known for creating “Venus” figurines, reached its zenith in Europe between 31,000 and 23,000 years ago.
Link to Gravettian Culture
The stone tools discovered at Buran Kaya III bear similarities to Gravettian tools, suggesting that the individuals from this site contributed both genetically and technologically to the population that eventually established the Gravettian civilization about 5,000 years later. This significant research, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution on October 23, records the earliest arrival of the ancestors of modern Europeans.
Citation: “Genome sequences of 36,000- to 37,000-year-old modern humans at Buran-Kaya III in Crimea” by E. Andrew Bennett, Oğuzhan Parasayan, Sandrine Prat, Stéphane Péan, Laurent Crépin, Alexandr Yanevich, Thierry Grange, and Eva-Maria Geigl, October 23, 2023, Nature Ecology & Evolution.
DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02211-9
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Early European Settlers
Who were the first modern humans to settle in Europe?
The first modern humans to settle in Europe were closely linked to the Gravettian culture, as revealed by a study analyzing 36,000-year-old skull fragments from Crimea. These settlers played a significant role in shaping early European civilization.
What does the new study about early European settlers reveal?
The study provides insights into the early migration of humans to Europe, focusing on skull fragments from Crimea dating back to around 36,000 years ago. It establishes a connection between these early settlers and the Gravettian culture.
When did the first human populations migrate from Africa to Europe?
The first human migrations from Africa to Europe occurred around 60,000 years ago. However, these early populations did not establish permanent settlements.
What caused the decline in early European populations 40,000 years ago?
Around 40,000 years ago, a significant climate crisis, along with a super-eruption from the Phlegraean Fields volcanic region near present-day Naples, led to a decline in the early European populations.
How were the Europe’s first modern human settlers identified?
The first modern human settlers in Europe were identified through the analysis of the genome of two skull fragments from the Buran Kaya III site in Crimea, dating to 36,000 and 37,000 years ago, and comparing their DNA to sequences in human genome databases.
More about Early European Settlers
- Nature Ecology & Evolution Study
- History of Gravettian Culture
- Ancient Human Migration Patterns
- Climate Crisis and Human Evolution
- Volcanic Eruptions and Human History
4 comments
always amazed by how much we can learn from such old stuff, like skull fragments, its like a window to the past.
thats some serious history right there, makes you wonder what Europe was like back then, so different from now
interesting study, but how can they be sure those skull fragments are 36,000 years old? seems a bit of a stretch
wow, didn’t know about the Gravettian culture, it’s fascinating how ancient humans moved around Europe!