Digital Desk: A new study published in the journal Science Advances suggests that early humans came to Eurasia during a major Pleistocene warming spell. The study, which was conducted by researchers from the University of Kansas and the Russian Academy of Sciences, analyzed pollen records from Lake Baikal in Siberia.
The pollen records showed that forests expanded into Siberia during a warming spell around 45,000 to 50,000 years ago. This would have made it easier for early humans to migrate into the region.
Pollen grains analysis helps understand how the first humans migrated from Africa across Europe and Asia, research in Science Advances says.
It’s an Ice Age mystery that’s been debated for decades among anthropologists: Exactly when and how did the flow of Homo sapiens in Eurasia happen? Did a cold snap or a warming spell drive early human movement from Africa into Europe and Asia?
The new pollen data suggest warming temperatures supported forests that expanded into Siberia and facilitated early human migration there, at roughly the same time as more and western areas of Eurasia.
The study also showed that the arrival of early humans in Siberia coincided with a decrease in the population of large mammals, such as mammoths and woolly rhinos. This suggests that early humans may have played a role in the decline of these animals.
The findings of the study are significant because they challenge the traditional view that early humans migrated into Eurasia during a cold snap. The study suggests that early humans were able to adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions and that they played a role in shaping the ecosystems of Eurasia.
The study also has implications for our understanding of climate change. The study shows that climate change can have a significant impact on human migration and adaptation. This is important to keep in mind as we face the challenges of climate change in the 21st century.