Estimates of Upper Palaeolithic meta-population size in Europe from archaeological data

Bocquet‐Appel, Jean‐Pierre; Demars, Pierre-Yves; Noiret, Lorette; Dobrowsky, Dmitry

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2005.05.006

Cited by 183 publications

(144 citation statements)

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“…However, the simulated population size in LGM Europe appears extremely high compared with the results of Bocquet-Appel et al (45), who estimated the population size to be less than 6,000 persons. There are two main reasons that lead to these considerably smaller population size estimates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 56%

“…There are two main reasons that lead to these considerably smaller population size estimates. First, Bocquet-Appel et al (45) estimate the human population range from the spatial distribution of archaeological data while assuming that it adequately reflects the true range of the human population. As discussed above, this assumption is probably not valid, because archaeological remains provide an incomplete and coarse reflection of past geographical distributions of human activity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As discussed above, this assumption is probably not valid, because archaeological remains provide an incomplete and coarse reflection of past geographical distributions of human activity. Second, compared with ethnographically known hunter-gatherer populations (17,24), Bocquet-Appel et al (45) use extremely low population density estimates and, even more importantly, only single estimates for each period in question, which does not take into account geographical variability in climate and environment. As our simulation shows, this variability has a strong impact on human population densities and this result appears to be robust with respect to the choice of climate model simulation data (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Human population dynamics in Europe over the Last Glacial Maximum

Tallavaara

Luoto

Korhonen

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

162

109

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The severe cooling and the expansion of the ice sheets during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), 27,000-19,000 y ago (27-19 ky ago) had a major impact on plant and animal populations, including humans. Changes in human population size and range have affected our genetic evolution, and recent modeling efforts have reaffirmed the importance of population dynamics in cultural and linguistic evolution, as well. However, in the absence of historical records, estimating past population levels has remained difficult. Here we show that it is possible to model spatially explicit human population dynamics from the pre-LGM at 30 ky ago through the LGM to the Late Glacial in Europe by using climate envelope modeling tools and modern ethnographic datasets to construct a population calibration model. The simulated range and size of the human population correspond significantly with spatiotemporal patterns in the archaeological data, suggesting that climate was a major driver of population dynamics 30-13 ky ago. The simulated population size declined from about 330,000 people at 30 ky ago to a minimum of 130,000 people at 23 ky ago. The Late Glacial population growth was fastest during Greenland interstadial 1, and by 13 ky ago, there were almost 410,000 people in Europe. Even during the coldest part of the LGM, the climatically suitable area for human habitation remained unfragmented and covered 36% of Europe.hunter-gatherers | demography | niche modeling | climate change | Paleolithic G rowing populations of anatomically and behaviorally modern humans have been partly responsible for past ecosystem changes such as the extinctions of Pleistocene megafauna and Neanderthal humans (1, 2). In addition to the destiny of other species, human population size also influences our own cultural and genetic evolution. Large pools of interacting individuals can create and maintain adaptive skills, as well as phonological variation, more effectively than small populations, and they are also capable of faster cumulative cultural evolution (3-5). A decrease in population size may even result in a loss of complex cultural traits (6). The effects of population size on cultural variation are thus roughly similar to the effects of population size on genetic variation (7).The study of the role of human population size in cultural and genetic evolution and past ecosystem changes necessitates estimates of population dynamics extending far beyond historical times. The archaeological record illustrates patterns of human population range and size dynamics (8-10), but it does not offer quantitative population size data. Archaeological reconstructions of population dynamics are also bound to the regions and time periods that offer a sufficiently rich archaeological record. In addition to archaeological data, information on past population patterns can be inferred from genetic data using skyline-plot methods (11) and pairwise or multiple sequentially Markovian coalescent analyzes (12, 13). However, these methods depend on estimates of DNA mutation rate and ...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 56%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Human population dynamics in Europe over the Last Glacial Maximum

Tallavaara

Luoto

Korhonen

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

162

109

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“…Following another interstadial period, less harsh than the midWürm period (30 to 50 000 years ago), the cold and drought reached their peak at 10 to 30 000 years ago. In the area covered by modern-day France, there were zones of tundra, frozen soil (permafrost) and steppes (Bocquet-Appel et al, 2005;Demars, 2008). During this period, the average annual temperatures in the Alps were 10 to 12°C lower than today.…”

Section: Homo Neanderthalensis and Homo Sapiens In A Degraded Ecosystemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of the Human Brain: the key roles of DHA (omega-3 fatty acid) and Δ6-desaturase gene

Majou

2018

OCL

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-The process of hominization involves an increase in brain size. The development of hominids' cognitive capital up to the emergence of Homo sapiens was due to interactive, iterative, and integrative coevolution, allowing positive selection. Although this depends on many factors, in this position paper we show three categories that stand out: gene mutations, food resources, and cognitive and behavioral stimulation. Australopithecus benefited both from the inactivation of the GULO and uricase genes and from bipedalism causing the cognitive capital of the Homo genus to develop advantageously. This evolution depended on two factors. Firstly, a triggering factor: gradual climate change. Homo started to regularly consume meat in addition to plants and insects. Secondly, a stimulating factor: mutations in the FADS2 gene, which encodes D6-desaturase; a key enzyme for the synthesis of DHA and sapienic acid. The polymorphism of this gene appears to have been essential in allowing the Homo genus to adapt to its food, and for its evolution. It provides an undeniable advantage in terms of the productivity of fat synthesis (DHA), and may partly explain positive selection. With the advent of cooking and new mutations producing even more FADS2, the brain reached its maximum size in Homo neanderthalensis, in a food ecosystem that provided favorable quantities of a-Linolenic acid and DHA. However, the Würm glaciation upset this equilibrium, revealing its fragility as regards to the brain and fertility. Homo sapiens, benefiting from new variants of the FADS2 gene, were able to adapt to this harsh environment, whereas Neanderthal man was unable to do so and became extinct.Keywords: brain / omega-3 / FADS / sapiens / neanderthal Résumé -Évolution du cerveau de l'homme : les rôles clés du DHA (acide gras oméga-3) et du gène de la D6-désaturase. Le processus d'hominisation prend en compte notamment l'élargissement du cerveau. Le développement du capital cognitif des hominidés jusqu'à Homo sapiens est le fait d'une coévolution interactive, itérative et intégrative qui a permis une sélection positive. S'il dépend de nombreux facteurs, trois ensembles ressortent : des mutations génétiques, des ressources alimentaires et des stimulations cognitives et comportementales. À partir des australopithèques, qui ont bénéficié de l'inactivation des gènes GULO et uricase, ainsi que de la bipédie, le cerveau du genre Homo a pu avantageusement se développer. Cette évolution dépend de deux facteurs essentiels. Un facteur déclenchant : un changement climatique progressif. Homo est devenu un consommateur régulier de produits carnés en complément des végétaux et d'insectes. Un facteur stimulant : les mutations sur le gène FADS2 de la D6-désaturase, enzyme clé de la synthèse du DHA et de l'acide sapiénique. Le polymorphisme de ce gène apparaît essentiel pour l'adaptation de Homo à son alimentation et pour son évolution. Il confère un indéniable avantage de productivité en synthèse lipidique (DHA) et peut, en partie, expliquer une sélection positi...

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“…This can be the case with an abrupt increase in frequencies, for example of hundreds of radiocarbon dates, interpreted as representing a re-colonization during the Late Glacial in Europe (Gamble et al, 2005), or even in the percentage of immature skeletons in more than 130 cemeteries, interpreted as the effect of a Neolithic demographic transition (Bocquet-Appel and Naji, 2006;Bocquet-Appel, 2002). It can also be the case with the variation in the space-time distribution of archaeological sites across Europe, reflecting an hitherto unknown distribution of populations under severe climatic constraint (Bocquet-Appel et al, 2005). But in these examples, which link up signatures and the demographic processes generating them, the distance is short and the model is simple.…”

Section: Cnrs Paris Francementioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Advances in Palaeodemography

Bocquet‐Appel¹

2008

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Estimates of Upper Palaeolithic meta-population size in Europe from archaeological data

Cited by 183 publications

References 13 publications

Human population dynamics in Europe over the Last Glacial Maximum

Human population dynamics in Europe over the Last Glacial Maximum

Evolution of the Human Brain: the key roles of DHA (omega-3 fatty acid) and Δ6-desaturase gene

Recent Advances in Palaeodemography

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