Stable isotopes show Homo sapiens dispersed into cold steppes ~45,000 years ago at Ilsenhohle in Ranis, Germany.

ABSTRACT: The spread of Homo sapiens into new habitats across Eurasia ~45,000 years ago and the concurrent disappearance of Neanderthals represents a critical evolutionary turnover in our species' history. 'Transitional' technocomplexes, such as the Lincombian-Ranisian-Jerzmanowician (LRJ), characterize the European record during this period but their makers and evolutionary significance have long remained unclear. New evidence from Ilsenhöhle in Ranis, Germany, now provides a secure connection of the LRJ to H. sapiens remains dated to ~45,000 years ago, making it one of the earliest forays of our species to central Europe. Using many stable isotope records of climate produced from 16 serially sampled equid teeth spanning ~12,500 years of LRJ and Upper Palaeolithic human occupation at Ranis, we revi

SUBMITTER: Pederzani S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10927559 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature