Ang Homo sapiens o ang modernong tao ay umunlad sa paligid ng 200,000 taon na ang nakalilipas sa East Africa malapit sa modernong Ethiopia. Nanirahan sila sa Africa nang mahabang panahon. Humigit-kumulang 55,000 taon na ang nakalilipas ay naghiwa-hiwalay sila sa iba't ibang bahagi ng mundo kasama na sa Eurasia at nagpatuloy na dominahin ang mundo sa takdang panahon.
The oldest evidence of human existence in Europa ay natagpuan sa Bacho Kiro Cave, Bulgaria. Ang tao na nananatili sa site na ito ay napetsahan na 47,000 taong gulang na nagpapahiwatig H. sapiens ay nakarating sa Silangang Europa ng 47,000 taon bago ang kasalukuyan.
Gayunpaman, ang Eurasia ay naging lupain ng mga neanderthal (homo neanderthalensis), an extinct species of ancient humans who lived in Europa and Asia between 400,000 years before present to about 40,000 years before present. They were good tool maker and hunter. H. sapiens did not evolve from neanderthals. Instead, both were close relatives. As shown in fossil records, neanderthals differed markedly from Homo sapiens anatomically in the skull, ear bones and pelvis. The former were shorter in height, had stockier bodies and had heavy brows and big noses. Therefore, based on significant differences in physical traits, neanderthals and homo sapiens are traditionally considered to be two distinct species. Nevertheless, H. neanderthalensis at H. sapiens interbred outside Africa when the later met neanderthals in Eurasia after leaving Africa. The present human populations whose ancestors had lived outside Africa have about 2% neanderthal DNA in their genome. Neanderthal ancestry is found in modern African populations as well perhaps because of migration of Europeans into Africa over the past 20,000 years.
The co-existence of neanderthals and H. sapiens in the Europa has been debated. Some thought that the neanderthals disappeared from northwestern Europa before the arrival of H. sapiens. Based on the study of stone tools and fragments of skeletal remains at the site, it was not possible to determine whether specific excavated levels at archaeological sites are associated with Neanderthals or H. sapiens. After reaching Europa, ginawa H. sapiens nakatira sa tabi ng (neanderthal) bago ang neanderthal ay nahaharap sa pagkalipol?
Ang Lincombian–Ranisian–Jerzmanowician (LRJ) stone-tool industry sa archaeological site sa Ilsenhöhle sa Ranis, Germany ay isang kawili-wiling kaso. Hindi mapapatunayan kung ang site na ito ay nauugnay sa mga neanderthal o H. sapiens.
In studies published recently, researchers extracted the sinaunang DNA from the skeletal fragments from this site and upon mitochondrial DNA analysis and direct radiocarbon dating of the remains found that remains belonged to modern human population and were about 45,000 years old which makes it the earliest H. sapiens remains in Northern Europa.
The studies showed that Homo sapiens were present in central and northwestern Europa long before extinction of Neanderthals in southwestern Europa and indicated that both species coexisted in Europe during the transitional period for about 15,000 years. H. sapiens at LRJ were small pioneer groups who were connected to wider populations of H. sapiens in eastern and central Europe.It was also found that around 45,000-43,000 years ago, cold climate prevailed across the sites at Ilsenhöhle and had a cold steppe setting. Directly dated human bones at the site suggest that H. sapiens could use the site and operate thus showing ability to adapt to the prevailing severe cold conditions.
The studies are significant because it identifies an early spread of H. sapiens into cold steppes in northern Europa 45,000 years ago. The humans could adapt to the extreme cold conditions and operate as small mobile groups of pioneers.
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Sanggunian:
- Mylopotamitaki, D., Weiss, M., Fewlass, H. et al. Naabot ng Homo sapiens ang mas mataas na latitude ng Europa noong 45,000 taon na ang nakalilipas. Kalikasan 626, 341–346 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06923-7
- Pederzani, S., Britton, K., Trost, M. et al. Ang mga matatag na isotopes ay nagpapakita ng mga Homo sapiens na nagkalat sa malamig na steppes ~45,000 taon na ang nakalilipas sa Ilsenhöhle sa Ranis, Germany. Nat Ecol Evol(2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02318-z
- Smith, GM, Ruebens, K., Zavala, EI et al. Ang ekolohiya, subsistence at diyeta ng ~45,000 taong gulang na Homo sapiens sa Ilsenhöhle sa Ranis, Germany. Nat Ecol Evol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02303-6
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