Imagine Europe thousands of years ago: vast forests, roaming elephants, and small groups of people wielding fire and spears. A recent study reveals that these ancient humans made a bigger mark on the landscape than we previously thought.
Researchers, including experts from Aarhus University, used advanced computer simulations to explore how climate, large animals, fire, and humans shaped Europe’s vegetation during two warm periods in the past. By comparing these findings with extensive pollen data, they concluded that both Neanderthals and Mesolithic hunter-gatherers significantly influenced Europe’s plant life long before farming began.
Jens-Christian Svenning, a professor of biology at Aarhus University, notes, “Climate change and large herbivores alone couldn’t explain the pollen data. When we included human activity, especially hunting and fire use, everything fit together much better.”
The Impact of Humans on Animal and Plant Life
The research focused on two key periods: the Last Interglacial (about 125,000 years ago) when Neanderthals roamed Europe, and the Early Holocene (around 12,000 years ago), when Homo sapiens took over. During the Last Interglacial, Europe hosted a rich array of large animals, while by the Mesolithic, many of these species had disappeared, likely due to hunting pressures from humans.
The study found that Mesolithic hunter-gatherers could have influenced around 47% of plant types in their environment. Neanderthals had a smaller but measurable impact, accounting for approximately 6% of plant distribution and about 14% of how open the landscape was. Both groups used fire to manage vegetation and affected it by hunting large herbivores. Interestingly, while Neanderthals hunted mammoths and other large animals, their smaller population meant they didn’t drastically reduce animal numbers or completely alter the ecosystem.
Svenning emphasizes that this new understanding discourages the idea of a pristine landscape untouched by human hands prior to agriculture. “Neanderthals and Mesolithic hunter-gatherers were not just passersby; they actively shaped Europe’s ecosystems,” he says.
Bringing Different Disciplines Together
The research also highlights the importance of collaboration across fields like ecology, archaeology, and computer science. Anastasia Nikulina, the study’s lead author, explained how advanced computer models helped simulate ancient ecosystems. “We gathered an extensive amount of spatial data spanning continents and periods. This allowed us to explore various scenarios for a comprehensive understanding.”
Svenning adds that more detailed local studies are crucial for fully grasping early human impacts. He suggests that future research should also look into regions like North and South America, which were populated by Homo sapiens after humans had already made their mark elsewhere.
Despite the study’s findings, there’s still a lot to learn. How humans interacted with their environment in prehistoric times remains a compelling area for future exploration. The effects of climate change, large animals, and human activity continue to shape ecosystems today, illustrating a long history of interconnections between humanity and nature.
For further insights into this research, you can check the study published in PLOS One here.
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