Scientists have sequenced the genomes of three Late Stone Age people who lived in Europe 30,000 years ago and discovered genetic mixing between Eastern and Western populations, overturning the long-held assumption that the two groups remained separate. The finding, published Oct. 23 in Science Advances, suggests that southwestern France was a key cultural and biological crossroads during the last ice age.
Researchers sequenced the genomes of three individuals from the Gravettian culture, a Stone Age society that spread across Europe from about 34,000 to 25,000 years ago. The remains came from what are now Spain, France and Italy. One skeleton, a woman unearthed in Isturitz Cave in southwestern France, carried DNA that was mostly similar to previously known Western European genomes but also showed a clear connection to Eastern and Central European groups.
The researchers dated this "pulse" of gene flow to about 31,500 to 32,500 years ago, indicating that people moved westward from Eastern Europe during the Gravettian period and contributed to the ancestry of individuals in the west.
"Our results show that eastern and western European populations were not as genetically isolated as previously assumed," study first author Pere Gelabert, an evolutionary anthropologist at the University of Vienna, said in a statement.
The DNA evidence supports the archaeological theory that Isturitz Cave, originally used by Neanderthals and occupied for tens of thousands of years, was an important cultural hub, as it sat at a critical passage between continental Europe and the Iberian Peninsula.
All three newly sequenced individuals had dark skin, dark hair and dark eyes, and none had parents who were closely related, suggesting the populations actively avoided inbreeding.
"Overall, our results suggest that population structure and gene flow in western Europe during the Gravettian were more complex and dynamic than previously assumed," the researchers wrote.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Rewrites the understanding of human mobility during the last ice age: Eastern and Western Europeans were in contact far earlier than archaeologists had assumed
- Identifies Isturitz Cave as a potential biological and cultural hub, reinforcing its importance in Stone Age archaeology
- Shows that ancient DNA can reveal population dynamics invisible from artifacts alone, offering a more complete picture of prehistoric society
Background
The Gravettian culture was widespread in Europe between 34,000 and 25,000 years ago, known for its portable art including the famous "Venus figurines." Until now, only about two dozen Gravettian-era skeletons had provided ancient DNA, leading researchers to believe that groups in the west and east evolved largely independently. The new study adds three more genomes, including one with clear evidence of gene flow from east to west, challenging that view.
What to Watch
- Whether future DNA studies of other Gravettian sites confirm the presence of Eastern ancestry further west, or reveal additional migration pulses
- Excavations at Isturitz Cave itself, which may yield more human remains from the same period that could expand the genetic sample
- Archaeologists may revisit the relationship between Gravettian material culture across Europe to see if artifacts also show evidence of the east-west exchange detected in the DNA
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 7 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedA 30,000-year-old genome from a French cave reveals unexpected genetic mixing between Eastern and Western Europeans.Latest from Live Science: “They discovered that one person had mixed genetic ancestry that revealed East-West exchange at least 30,000 years ago.”
- Not in the sourcesThe remains came from a grave of a Gravettian woman in Isturitz Cave.Latest from Live Science: “The new information about mixed ancestry comes from a woman who died around 30,000 years ago and whose bones were found in Isturitz Cave in southwestern France.”
- Partly supportedThe study found that Eastern and Western European populations were not isolated.Latest from Live Science: “Our results show that eastern and western European populations were not as genetically isolated as previously assumed,”
- Partly supportedThe discovery overturned the long-held assumption that Eastern and Western European groups remained separate.Latest from Live Science: “Based on the small number of genomes from Gravettian people that were previously sequenced, experts believed that groups in Western Europe were largely separate from groups in Eastern Europe.”
- SupportedResearchers sequenced the genomes of three people who lived in Europe 30,000 years ago.Latest from Live Science: “Scientists have sequenced the genomes of three Late Stone Age people who lived in Europe 30,000 years ago”
- SupportedThe study was published Oct. 23 in Science Advances.Latest from Live Science: “But in a study published Oct. 23 in the journal Science Advances, researchers sequenced the genomes of three people”
- SupportedThe woman’s DNA was most similar to previously known Western European genomes and also connected to Eastern and Central European groups.Latest from Live Science: “Researchers found that the DNA from the Gravettian woman in Isturitz Cave was most similar to the previously known Western European genomes, but with an intriguing connection to Eastern and Central European groups.”
- SupportedResearchers dated the gene-flow pulse to about 31,500 to 32,500 years ago.Latest from Live Science: “Specifically, the researchers dated this “pulse” of gene flow to about 31,500 to 32,500 years ago.”
- Partly supportedThe finding indicates that people moved westward from Eastern Europe during the Gravettian and contributed to ancestry in the west.Latest from Live Science: “It “could be explained by movements of people from Eastern Europe during the Gravettian period, which eventually contributed to this ancestry in Isturitz.””
- SupportedPere Gelabert, the study’s first author and an evolutionary anthropologist at the University of Vienna, said the populations were not as genetically isolated as assumed.Latest from Live Science: ““Our results show that eastern and western European populations were not as genetically isolated as previously assumed,” study first author Pere Gelabert, an evolutionary anthropologist at the University of Vienna, said in a statement.”
- Partly supportedAll three newly sequenced individuals had dark skin, dark hair and dark eyes.Latest from Live Science: “All three newly sequenced Gravettian genomes revealed close biological connections to Western European groups, as well as genetic traits suggesting they had dark skin, dark hair and dark eyes.”
- SupportedThe researchers wrote: “Overall, our results suggest that population structure and gene flow in western Europe during the Gravettian were more complex and dynamic than previously assumed.”Latest from Live Science: ““Overall, our results suggest that population structure and gene flow in western Europe during the Gravettian were more complex and dynamic than previously assumed,” the researchers wrote.”