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Paleolithic human DNA reveals east-west connections across Ice Age Europe
Phys.org • • science
Key Points:
- New genetic evidence reveals that Gravettian populations across Europe, dating back over 30,000 years, were more interconnected through east-west gene flow than previously believed, challenging the notion of isolated eastern and western ancestry groups.
- The genome of a 30,000-year-old woman from Isturitz Cave in southwestern France shows a mix of western European and central/eastern European ancestry, indicating significant long-distance genetic exchange around 32,500 to 31,500 years ago.
- Analysis of ancient human DNA preserved in cave sediments, such as from El Mirón Cave in northern Spain, demonstrates long-term population continuity in southwestern Europe and supports the Iberian Peninsula as a refuge during the Last Glacial Maximum.
- Genetic study of a male fetus from southern Italy and his mother indicates mating practices that avoided close inbreeding, suggesting complex social behaviors within these Paleolithic groups.
- The research team plans to further explore early modern human expansions and interactions using sedimentary DNA and proteomic methods, especially in contexts with scarce organic remains.
