Unearthing a 30,000-Year-Old Bond Between Humans and Ravens

The relationship between humans and ravens goes back over 30,000 years, much further than previously thought, according to newly uncovered evidence. Scientists suggest that these intelligent birds could have relied on mammoth leftovers from human hunts, potentially also serving as an additional food source for humans. The study demonstrates how human activities influenced ecosystems, facilitating beneficial co-habitation, or synanthropy, which in turn shaped human culture and had implications for the transmission of zoonotic diseases.

The investigation into this ancient human-raven bond was spearheaded by scientists at the University of Tübingen and the Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment.

The dynamic relationship between humans and wildlife predates the founding of the first Neolithic communities around 10,000 years ago. This international research project, involving scholars from the Universities of Tübingen, Helsinki, and Aarhus, presents fresh understanding of these intricate interactions. The study evidences that during the Pavlovian era over 30,000 years ago, ravens scavenged from the leftovers of human hunts in what is now Moravia, Czech Republic.

The significant quantity of raven bones found at these historical sites indicates that these birds were not only scavengers but may have also played a crucial role in the culinary, cultural, and spiritual practices of our ancestors.

Leading the study are Dr. Chris Baumann, currently based at the Universities of Tübingen and Helsinki, and Dr. Shumon T. Hussain of Aarhus University, a renowned expert in the complex history of human-animal relationships. They are supported by Professor Hervé Bocherens from the University of Tübingen and the Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment. The research has been published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution.

In a previous study published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, Chris Baumann laid the groundwork, illustrating the depth of animal-human cohabitation into the Pleistocene era, and hypothesizing its impact on early ecosystems.

Ravens, known for their dietary breadth and behavioral adaptability, were abundantly present at the archaeological sites of Předmostí, Pavlov I, and Dolní Věstonice I in southern Moravia. Dr. Shumon T. Hussain noted the remarkably high number of raven remains found at these locations, unique for that time period.

The team speculated that these ravens were attracted to human settlements and the opportunities they presented. By analyzing the nitrogen, carbon, and sulfur stable isotope compositions in the bones of twelve ravens from the sites, they found that the birds’ diet mainly consisted of large herbivores, particularly mammoths, aligning with the human diet at that time. As Chris Baumann explains, it’s highly likely that the ravens were attracted to mammoth carcasses found near human camps.

The study suggests that the actions of humans significantly influenced the behavior of ravens in their shared ecosystem. In return, humans likely capitalized on this behavior, hunting ravens for their feathers and meat, illuminating early hunter-gatherer ecosystems.

The researchers propose that the ravens benefited from synanthropy, capitalizing on the shared ecosystem with humans.

Refuting the concept of untouched nature during early human history, Chris Baumann argues that humans were altering ecosystems as far back as 30,000 years ago, with considerable consequences for other organisms. Leftovers from human hunts provided a consistent food supply for smaller scavengers and allowed for new human-adapted feeding niches to emerge. These niches were progressively exploited, becoming critical for certain species. Concurrently, these animals assumed a greater role in human cultures.

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• Nature Ecology and Evolution
• University of Tübingen
• Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment
• Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences
• Aarhus University