Topic: Research News

Scientists used computer simulations to study how early humans shaped European vegetation. They found that Neanderthals and hunter-gatherers changed their surroundings more than previously thought.

Imagine Europe tens of thousands of years ago. Thick forests covered much of the land. Herds of elephants, bison, and aurochs roamed freely. Small bands of humans moved through this world carrying fire and spears.

New research suggests that those early people changed their surroundings far more than scientists once believed. An international team used advanced computer simulations to examine how climate, large animals, natural fires, and humans shaped European vegetation during two past warm periods.

The team compared these simulations with extensive fossil pollen data from the same eras. By matching the models with real-world evidence preserved in pollen, they were able to estimate how much each factor influenced plant cover. The results point to a clear conclusion: both Neanderthals and later Mesolithic hunter-gatherers significantly altered vegetation patterns across Europe, long before agriculture began.

The study involved experts from Denmark, France, the Netherlands, and the UK. According to Jens-Christian Svenning, professor of biology at Aarhus University,

Implications

Scientists used computer simulations to study how early humans shaped European vegetation. They found that Neanderthals and hunter-gatherers changed their surroundings more than previously thought.