Hunter-gatherers across the great Adriatic-Po region during the Last Glacial Maximum: Environmental and cultural dynamics

Early Alpine occupation backdates westward human migration in Late Glacial Europe

“…With our work, we provide genomic, uniparental, and chronological evidence that backdates the presence of the so called Villabruna component in Northern Italy to as early as 17 ka ago, when it chronologically overlaps with major cultural transitions involving the region. The shift from Early to Late Epigravettian has not been abrupt, and despite the emergence of regionalism and environmental/cultural differences between Adriatic and Tyrrhenian contexts, 12 change in the relative frequency of artifact types and reduction sequences, as well as in raw material procurement and settlement patterns, can be recorded since $17 ky cal BP. 4,5,12,28-34 After 14 ky cal BP, a more-marked discontinuity is attested by the greater reliance on geometric microlithic pieces and a stronger presence of engraved and painted bones and stones bearing linear, geometric, zoomorphic, or anthropomorphic motives.…”

“…1 These processes led to considerable change in the geomorphology of the Alpine sectors and stabilized large surfaces of the Great Adriatic/Po Region. 12 A rapid forest recolonization of the Alpine foothills started about 17 ka cal BP, well before the major Bølling/Allerød warmup. 6,36,37 Alpine forelands became (open) pine forests with tree Betula and Larix (Figure 1C) 3 while open vegetations developed in the distal sector of the megafans.…”

“…6,36,37 Alpine forelands became (open) pine forests with tree Betula and Larix (Figure 1C) 3 while open vegetations developed in the distal sector of the megafans. 12,38 At the end of LGM, local faunal availability was limited and mostly consisted of species adapted to open environments that had been able to find their climatic optimum by moving to higher elevations in warmer interstadials (e.g., Alpine ibex and marmot) or taking refuge (e.g., elk) in areas with favorable microclimates. Most Central European, cold-adapted megafaunal species had entered northern Italy before the onset of LGM through the central Slovenian corridor-the same used by Gravettian huntergatherers to follow game and settle across the Adriatic.…”

Through 40.000 Years of Human Presence in Southern Europe: The Italian Case Study

“…During the LGM, at around 20-19kya, Italy by and large disconnected from the rest of continental Europe by the Alpine Icecap [19], but was in continuity with the Balkan Peninsula through land bridges spanning the Adriatic Sea. These connections provided crucial for the establishment of trade and cultural exchanges with groups from the Balkans and the Black Sea region [19], which ultimately resulted in genetic exchanges.…”

“…During the LGM, at around 20-19kya, Italy by and large disconnected from the rest of continental Europe by the Alpine Icecap [19], but was in continuity with the Balkan Peninsula through land bridges spanning the Adriatic Sea. These connections provided crucial for the establishment of trade and cultural exchanges with groups from the Balkans and the Black Sea region [19], which ultimately resulted in genetic exchanges. The most notable evidence of such a gene flow is represented by the so-called Villabruna replacement, which is represented by the arrival of genetic components with a higher affinity to contemporary Near Eastern groups and which formed the basis for the post-Ice Age European genetic landscape [18].…”