16.08.2024

New Science Advances Study Reveals Human Population Dynamics in Upper Paleolithic Europe

We are excited to share a new publication in Science Advances, titled "Human population dynamics in Upper Paleolithic Europe inferred from fossil dental phenotypes." This study, led by our former fellow Dr. Hannes Rathmann, explores 40,000 years of Upper Paleolithic hunter-gatherer demography in Europe, using the largest fossil dataset ever assembled and a new AI tool. They found sharp population declines during the coldest Ice Age period, with populations in western and eastern Europe becoming largely isolated. In the west, hunter-gatherers even faced extinction!

The publication includes contributions from our Center’s affiliates: Dr. Judith Beier, current fellow; Prof. Dr. Katerina Harvati, one of our Principal Investigators; Dr. Silvia Ghirotto, one of our external members; and Dr. Hannes Rathmann, a former fellow, now at the Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment, University of Tübingen. Other collaborators include Maria T. Vizzari (University of Ferrara) and Shara E. Bailey (New York University).

Access the full article here, and read the German press release from the University of Tübingen here.

The research team expresses deep gratitude to all co-authors and additional Tübingen colleagues for their contributions. Congratulations to the team on this important achievement!