Palaeogenomics of Upper Palaeolithic to Neolithic European hunter-gatherers

Modern humans have populated Europe for more than 45,000 years1,2. Our knowledge of the genetic relatedness and structure of ancient hunter-gatherers is however limited, owing to the scarceness and poor molecular preservation of human remains from that period3. Here we analyse 356 ancient hunter-gatherer genomes, including new genomic data for 116 individuals from 14 countries in western and central Eurasia, spanning between 35,000 and 5,000 years ago. We identify a genetic ancestry profile in individuals associated with Upper Palaeolithic Gravettian assemblages from western Europe that is distinct from contemporaneous groups related to this archaeological culture in central and southern Europe4, but resembles that of preceding individuals associated with the Aurignacian culture. This ancestry profile survived during the Last Glacial Maximum (25,000 to 19,000 years ago) in human populations from southwestern Europe associated with the Solutrean culture, and with the following Magdalenian culture that re-expanded northeastward after the Last Glacial Maximum. Conversely, we reveal a genetic turnover in southern Europe suggesting a local replacement of human groups around the time of the Last Glacial Maximum, accompanied by a north-to-south dispersal of populations associated with the Epigravettian culture. From at least 14,000 years ago, an ancestry related to this culture spread from the south across the rest of Europe, largely replacing the Magdalenian-associated gene pool. After a period of limited admixture that spanned the beginning of the Mesolithic, we find genetic interactions between western and eastern European hunter-gatherers, who were also characterized by marked differences in phenotypically relevant variants

Palaeogenomics of Upper Palaeolithic to Neolithic European hunter-gatherers

Modern humans have populated Europe for more than 45,000 years. Our knowledge of the genetic relatedness and structure of ancient hunter-gatherers is however limited, owing to the scarceness and poor molecular preservation of human remains from that period. Here we analyse 356 ancient hunter-gatherer genomes, including new genomic data for 116 individuals from 14 countries in western and central Eurasia, spanning between 35,000 and 5,000 years ago. We identify a genetic ancestry profile in individuals associated with Upper Palaeolithic Gravettian assemblages from western Europe that is distinct from contemporaneous groups related to this archaeological culture in central and southern Europe, but resembles that of preceding individuals associated with the Aurignacian culture. This ancestry profile survived during the Last Glacial Maximum (25,000 to 19,000 years ago) in human populations from southwestern Europe associated with the Solutrean culture, and with the following Magdalenian culture that re-expanded northeastward after the Last Glacial Maximum. Conversely, we reveal a genetic turnover in southern Europe suggesting a local replacement of human groups around the time of the Last Glacial Maximum, accompanied by a north-to-south dispersal of populations associated with the Epigravettian culture. From at least 14,000 years ago, an ancestry related to this culture spread from the south across the rest of Europe, largely replacing the Magdalenian-associated gene pool. After a period of limited admixture that spanned the beginning of the Mesolithic, we find genetic interactions between western and eastern European hunter-gatherers, who were also characterized by marked differences in phenotypically relevant variants.Open access funding provided by Max Planck Society. This project has received funding by the European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreements no. 803147-RESOLUTION (to S.T.), no. 771234-PALEoRIDER (to W.H.), no. 864358 (to K.M.), no. 724703 and no. 101019659 (to K.H.). K.H. is also supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG FOR 2237). E.A. has received funding from the Van de Kamp fonds. PACEA co-authors of this research benefited from the scientific framework of the University of Bordeaux’s IdEx Investments for the Future programme/GPR Human Past. A.G.-O. is supported by a Ramón y Cajal fellowship (RYC-2017-22558). L. Sineo, M.L. and D.C. have received funding from the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) PRIN 2017 grants 20177PJ9XF and 20174BTC4R_002. H. Rougier received support from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences of CSUN and the CSUN Competition for RSCA Awards. C.L.S. and T. Saupe received support from the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (project no. 2014-2020.4.01.16-0030) and C.L.S. received support from the Estonian Research Council grant PUT (PRG243). S. Shnaider received support from the Russian Science Foundation (no. 19-78-10053).Peer reviewe

Palaeogenomics of Upper Palaeolithic to Neolithic European hunter-gatherers

Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s).Modern humans have populated Europe for more than 45,000 years1,2. Our knowledge of the genetic relatedness and structure of ancient hunter-gatherers is however limited, owing to the scarceness and poor molecular preservation of human remains from that period3. Here we analyse 356 ancient hunter-gatherer genomes, including new genomic data for 116 individuals from 14 countries in western and central Eurasia, spanning between 35,000 and 5,000 years ago. We identify a genetic ancestry profile in individuals associated with Upper Palaeolithic Gravettian assemblages from western Europe that is distinct from contemporaneous groups related to this archaeological culture in central and southern Europe4, but resembles that of preceding individuals associated with the Aurignacian culture. This ancestry profile survived during the Last Glacial Maximum (25,000 to 19,000 years ago) in human populations from southwestern Europe associated with the Solutrean culture, and with the following Magdalenian culture that re-expanded northeastward after the Last Glacial Maximum. Conversely, we reveal a genetic turnover in southern Europe suggesting a local replacement of human groups around the time of the Last Glacial Maximum, accompanied by a north-to-south dispersal of populations associated with the Epigravettian culture. From at least 14,000 years ago, an ancestry related to this culture spread from the south across the rest of Europe, largely replacing the Magdalenian-associated gene pool. After a period of limited admixture that spanned the beginning of the Mesolithic, we find genetic interactions between western and eastern European hunter-gatherers, who were also characterized by marked differences in phenotypically relevant variants.Peer reviewe

Palaeogenomics of Upper Palaeolithic to Neolithic European hunter-gatherers

: Modern humans have populated Europe for more than 45,000 years1,2. Our knowledge of the genetic relatedness and structure of ancient hunter-gatherers is however limited, owing to the scarceness and poor molecular preservation of human remains from that period3. Here we analyse 356 ancient hunter-gatherer genomes, including new genomic data for 116 individuals from 14 countries in western and central Eurasia, spanning between 35,000 and 5,000 years ago. We identify a genetic ancestry profile in individuals associated with Upper Palaeolithic Gravettian assemblages from western Europe that is distinct from contemporaneous groups related to this archaeological culture in central and southern Europe4, but resembles that of preceding individuals associated with the Aurignacian culture. This ancestry profile survived during the Last Glacial Maximum (25,000 to 19,000 years ago) in human populations from southwestern Europe associated with the Solutrean culture, and with the following Magdalenian culture that re-expanded northeastward after the Last Glacial Maximum. Conversely, we reveal a genetic turnover in southern Europe suggesting a local replacement of human groups around the time of the Last Glacial Maximum, accompanied by a north-to-south dispersal of populations associated with the Epigravettian culture. From at least 14,000 years ago, an ancestry related to this culture spread from the south across the rest of Europe, largely replacing the Magdalenian-associated gene pool. After a period of limited admixture that spanned the beginning of the Mesolithic, we find genetic interactions between western and eastern European hunter-gatherers, who were also characterized by marked differences in phenotypically relevant variants

La place du silex dans l’unité T125

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Le travail du silex

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Le Badegoulien de la moitié nord de la France. Un état des connaissances

In the Paris Basin the Badegoulian was first identified 70 years ago, but remains known only from a limited number of sites. As a result of the excavation of two key sites, Bois de Beauregards (Seine-et-Marne) and Abri Fritsch (Indre), certain aspects of the material culture were described during the 1970s and '80s. It was not, however, until the recent excavations on the site of Oisy (Nièvre) after 2000 that new discoveries further enriched our understanding of this period. Five years of research on this site have yielded significant data that amply complement previously known data. Current analyses that aim at a better technological characterization of production methods for flint tools and weapons have now identified previously unknown traits that open the way for new discussions. Demonstration of these characteristics has, moreover, led to supplementary observations for material from two other key sites and also on several regional industries assumed to be Badegoulian. Thus, twenty years after the last major publication on the subject, it is now possible to present a new synthesis of knowledge on the Badegoulian population in the northern half of France and to propose new lines of research that should be developed.Dans le Bassin parisien, le Badegoulien a été identifié pour la première fois il y a 70 ans mais ne reste connu qu’au travers d’un nombre limité de sites. Grâce à la fouille de deux gisements clés, le Bois des Beauregards (Seine-et-Marne) et l’abri Fritsch (Indre), certains pans de sa culture matérielle ont pu être décrits dès les années soixante-dix - quatre-vingt. Il aura néanmoins fallu attendre les récentes fouilles réalisées sur le site de Oisy (Nièvre) à partir des années 2000 pour que de nouvelles découvertes viennent enrichir la connaissance de cette période. Exploré depuis cinq ans, ce site fournit en effet une importante documentation qui complète amplement celle recueillie jusqu’à présent. Les analyses actuelles qui visent une meilleure caractérisation technologique des méthodes de fabrication des outils et des armatures en silex y ont d’ores et déjà montré quelques caractères inédits qui ouvrent la voie à de nouvelles discussions. La mise en évidence de ces particularités nous a par ailleurs conduit à effectuer des observations supplémentaires sur le matériel des deux autres gisements principaux, mais aussi sur plusieurs industries régionales présumées badegouliennes. Ainsi, vingt ans après la dernière publication majeure sur le sujet, il est désormais possible de dresser une nouvelle synthèse des connaissances sur le peuplement badegoulien de la moitié nord de la France et d’évoquer les problématiques qui devront être prochainement développées.Bodu Pierre, Chehmana Lucie, Debout Grégory. Le Badegoulien de la moitié nord de la France. Un état des connaissances. In: Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française, tome 104, n°4, 2007. pp. 661-679

Variabilité des habitudes tardiglaciaires dans le Bassin parisien : l'organisation spatiale et sociale de l'Azilien ancien du Closeau

Palaeoethnographic studies of Late Glacial hunter-gatherers in the Paris Basin have for many years focused on dwelling practices at the level of both occupation units and camps. A parallel research orientation has attempted to identify the authors of lithic and bone/ antler production. This approach has been particularly fruitful in the context of Magdalenian sites, but was not applied to an Azilian site until 1994, in the context of excavations at Le Closeau. In the earliest level of this site, classic studies allowed the identification of highly structured dwelling units, while the relations between them were determined through lithic refitting. Recent analyses associating data concerning seasonality, the utilisation of space and quantities of abandoned artefacts open new perspectives for understanding the economic and social organisation of Azilian territory.L’enquête palethnographique sur les chasseurs-cueilleurs du Tardiglaciaire du Bassin parisien s’est, de longue date, intéressée aux pratiques de l’habitat, tant au niveau de l’unité d’occupation qu’à l’échelle des campements. Une voie de recherche parallèle a tenté d’identifier les auteurs des productions lithiques et osseuses notamment. Appliquée aux gisements magdaléniens, cette démarche a été particulièrement féconde alors qu’il a fallu attendre 1994 et la fouille du Closeau pour qu’elle puisse concerner un site azilien. Sur le niveau ancien du Closeau, des études classiques ont permis de décrire des unités d’habitation fortement structurées, mais également, grâce aux remontages lithiques, les relations qu’elles ont entretenues. Des travaux récents associant les données de la saisonnalité, les modes d’utilisation de l’espace et les quantités d’artefacts abandonnés ouvrent de nouvelles perspectives quant à la compréhension de la gestion économique et de l’organisation sociale d’un territoire azilien.Bodu Pierre, Debout Grégory, Bignon Olivier. Variabilité des habitudes tardiglaciaires dans le Bassin parisien : l'organisation spatiale et sociale de l'Azilien ancien du Closeau . In: Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française, tome 103, n°4, 2006. pp. 711-728

Répartition des témoins animaux : une gestion de l’espace rythmée par les saisons ?

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