The timing and pattern of the biological and cultural shifts that occurred in Western Europe around 45,000-35,000 calendar years ago (cal BP) fuel continuous debates among paleoanthropologists and prehistorians [1, 2]. During this time period, Neandertals were replaced by anatomically modern humans (AMH), and a variety of “transitional” and early Upper Paleolithic cultures emerged. Among them, the Protoaurignacian is crucial to the current debate about the timing of arrival of AMH and their interaction with Neandertals, although it remains uncertain who were the makers of this culture [3]. Here we provide evidence that at two sites in Northern Italy the Protoaurignacian is associated with AMH, through the investigation of a lower left lateral deciduous incisor (Ldi2) from Riparo Bombrini (Western Ligurian Alps, Italy) and an upper right lateral deciduous incisor (Rdi2) from Grotta di Fumane (Western Lessini Mountains, Italy). We used digital morphometric methods based on microtomographic data to analyze the three-dimensional relative enamel thickness (RET) index of the Bombrini tooth. We also analyzed the mitochondrial DNA from the Fumane 2 dental specimen. The RET index of Bombrini is higher than any values obtained for Neandertals and is close to the AMH mean. The Fumane 2 mitochondrial genome falls within the variation of modern humans and basally in haplogroup R. In addition, new chronometric data for the Protoaurignacian of Riparo Bombrini show that the tooth falls between 40,710 and 35,640 cal BP. The Grotta di Fumane tooth, based on the recent dating of the Protoaurignacian sequence, dates from 41,110 to 38,500 cal BP [4]. These teeth are the oldest human remains in an Aurignacian-related archeological context, suggesting that by 41,000 cal BP, AMH of Protoaurignacian culture spread into Southern Europe along the Mediterranean coast. Since the last Neandertals date to 41,030-39,260 cal BP [5], we suggest that the Protoaurignacian triggered the demise of Neandertals in this part of Europe.
The makers of the Protoaurignacian and implications for Neandertal extinction.
PERESANI, Marco;
2015
Abstract
The timing and pattern of the biological and cultural shifts that occurred in Western Europe around 45,000-35,000 calendar years ago (cal BP) fuel continuous debates among paleoanthropologists and prehistorians [1, 2]. During this time period, Neandertals were replaced by anatomically modern humans (AMH), and a variety of “transitional” and early Upper Paleolithic cultures emerged. Among them, the Protoaurignacian is crucial to the current debate about the timing of arrival of AMH and their interaction with Neandertals, although it remains uncertain who were the makers of this culture [3]. Here we provide evidence that at two sites in Northern Italy the Protoaurignacian is associated with AMH, through the investigation of a lower left lateral deciduous incisor (Ldi2) from Riparo Bombrini (Western Ligurian Alps, Italy) and an upper right lateral deciduous incisor (Rdi2) from Grotta di Fumane (Western Lessini Mountains, Italy). We used digital morphometric methods based on microtomographic data to analyze the three-dimensional relative enamel thickness (RET) index of the Bombrini tooth. We also analyzed the mitochondrial DNA from the Fumane 2 dental specimen. The RET index of Bombrini is higher than any values obtained for Neandertals and is close to the AMH mean. The Fumane 2 mitochondrial genome falls within the variation of modern humans and basally in haplogroup R. In addition, new chronometric data for the Protoaurignacian of Riparo Bombrini show that the tooth falls between 40,710 and 35,640 cal BP. The Grotta di Fumane tooth, based on the recent dating of the Protoaurignacian sequence, dates from 41,110 to 38,500 cal BP [4]. These teeth are the oldest human remains in an Aurignacian-related archeological context, suggesting that by 41,000 cal BP, AMH of Protoaurignacian culture spread into Southern Europe along the Mediterranean coast. Since the last Neandertals date to 41,030-39,260 cal BP [5], we suggest that the Protoaurignacian triggered the demise of Neandertals in this part of Europe.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
