The Neanderthal niche space of Western Eurasia 145 ka to 30 ka ago

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: April 2, 2024

Abstract Neanderthals occupied Western Eurasia between 350 ka and 40 ago, during the climatically volatile Pleistocene. A key issue is to what extent Neanderthal populations expanded into areas of conditions facilitated such range expansions. The generally based on distribution material, but land-altering nature glacial periods has erased much already sparse material evidence Neanderthals, particularly in northern latitudes. To overcome this obstacle species models can estimate past distributions however, most implementations are constrained spatially temporally may be artificially truncating niche space. Using dated contexts from sites across Eurasia, millennial-scale paleoclimate reconstructions, a spatiotemporal model, we infer fundamental climatic space occupation. We find that (a.) despite long timeframe, occupy relatively narrow space, (b.) estimated projected potential suggests larger geographic than record suggests, (c.) there was general decline size 145 ago onward, possibly contributing their extinction.

Language: Английский

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Ice-proximal sea ice reconstruction in the Powell Basin, Antarctica, since the Last Interglacial

Climate of the past, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 21(1), P. 299 - 326

Published: Jan. 31, 2025

Abstract. In Antarctica, the presence of sea ice not only plays a critical role in climate system but also contributes to enhancing stability floating shelves. Hence, investigating past ice-proximal conditions, especially across glacial–interglacial cycles, can provide crucial information pertaining variability and deepen our understanding ocean–ice–atmosphere dynamics feedback. this study, we apply multiproxy approach, combination with numerical modeling, explore environmental variability. We analyze novel biomarker IPSO25 (a di-unsaturated highly branched isoprenoid (HBI)), open-water biomarkers (tri-unsaturated HBIs; z-/e-trienes), diatom assemblage primary productivity indicators marine sediment core retrieved from Powell Basin, NW Weddell Sea. These have been established as reliable proxies for reconstructing near-coastal conditions Southern Ocean (SO), where typical use sea-ice-related diatoms be impacted by silica dissolution. present first continuous records, close proximity Antarctic continental margin, since penultimate deglaciation. Our data shed new light on (seasonal) basin reveal dynamic setting characterized significant shifts perennial cover seasonal an open environment over last 145 kyr. results unveil stronger deglacial amplitude warming during Last Interglacial (LIG; Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5e) compared current one (Holocene). A short-term readvance occurred towards end each Finally, despite similar findings between proxy model data, notable differences persist both interglacials – emphasizing necessity different sheet configurations employed more robust paleoclimate enhance performance margin.

Language: Английский

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Vegetation and climate changes during the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in the southwestern Mediterranean: What happened to the last Neanderthals during Heinrich stadial 4?

Quaternary Science Reviews, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 359, P. 109345 - 109345

Published: April 28, 2025

Language: Английский

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Nobody’s land? The oldest evidence of early Upper Paleolithic settlements in inland Iberia

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 10(26)

Published: June 26, 2024

The Iberian Peninsula is a key region for unraveling human settlement histories of Eurasia during the period spanning decline Neandertals and emergence anatomically modern humans (AMH). There no evidence occupation in central Iberia after disappearance ~42,000 years ago until approximately 26,000 ago, rendering "nobody's land" Aurignacian period. Abrigo de la Malia provides irrefutable settlements dating back to 36,200 31,760 calibrated before present (cal B.P.) This site also records additional levels around 32,420 26,260 cal B.P., suggesting repeated this territory. Our multiproxy examination identifies change climate trending toward colder more arid conditions. However, climatic deterioration does not appear have affected AMH subsistence strategies or their capacity inhabit region. These findings reveal ability groups colonize regions hitherto considered uninhabitable, reopening debate on early Upper Paleolithic population dynamics southwestern Europe.

Language: Английский

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Anatomically modern human dispersals into Europe during MIS 3: Climate stability, paleogeography and habitat suitability

Quaternary Science Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 330, P. 108596 - 108596

Published: March 12, 2024

Language: Английский

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Evaluating the impact of climate change and millennial variability on the last Neanderthal populations in Europe (Marine Isotope Stage 3)

Quaternary Science Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 338, P. 108812 - 108812

Published: July 17, 2024

Language: Английский

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Changes in Atmospheric Dynamics Over Dansgaard‐Oeschger Climate Oscillations Around 40 ka and Their Impact on Europe

Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 129(3)

Published: Jan. 31, 2024

Abstract Dansgaard‐Oeschger (D‐O) climate variability during the last glaciation was first evidenced in ice cores and marine sediments, is also recorded various terrestrial paleoclimate archives Europe. The relative synchronicity across Greenland, North Atlantic Europe implies a tight fast coupling between those regions, most probably effectuated by an atmospheric transmission mechanism. In this study, we investigated changes Greenland interstadial (GI) stadial (GS) phases based on regional model simulations using two specific periods, GI‐10 GS‐9 both around 40 ka, as boundary conditions. Our accurately capture temperature precipitation reconstructed available proxy data. Moreover, depict intensified southward shifted eddy‐driven jet period. Ultimately, affects near‐surface circulation toward more southwesterly cyclonic flow western period, explaining much of seasonal data, including oxygen isotopes, at considered sites.

Language: Английский

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Climate change in Europe between 90 and 50 kyr BP and Neanderthal territorial habitability

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 20(2), P. e0308690 - e0308690

Published: Feb. 26, 2025

After having lived as the dominant human species in Europe for over 200 kyr, Homo neanderthalensis (the Neanderthals) disappeared around 40 kyr BP (Before Present) Higham T (2014). Competition with sapiens , who arrived same time, is often invoked to explain this extinction. Others have argued that climate change may reduced living space of population making its disappearance more rapid. In order test hypothesis we modelled Neanderthals’ ecological niches between 90 and 50 through paleoenvironmental reconstructions Eco-Cultural Niche Modelling. We selected five environmental variables (orographic height, mean annual precipitation, temperature coldest month, carrying capacity friction, see below) from model simulations 5 periods Europe. used Structural Similarity (SSIM) index compare probability maps suitable Neanderthals performed by Maxent. a strong initial first (P1 = 83 BP) second (P2 69 periods, our results show large areas highly Neanderthal occupation persisted across As an increase/stability Neanderthals, question cause decrease or displacement towards southern after climatic remains open.

Language: Английский

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More than a fingerprint on a pebble: A pigment-marked object from San Lázaro rock-shelter in the context of Neanderthal symbolic behavior

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(6)

Published: May 24, 2025

Language: Английский

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Middle Pleistocene hominin presence in the Southern Iberian Plateau: Lithic assemblages from the Cueva de los Toriles site (Carrizosa, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain)

Journal of Archaeological Science Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 65, P. 105239 - 105239

Published: May 27, 2025

Language: Английский

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