Ancient DNA from sediment reveals genetic links between ice age Europeans

Researchers used sediment analysis to discover genetic links between prehistoric populations in Europe during the last glacial maximum.

The study, published in Science Advances, examined human remains and environmental samples from three sites: Chufín in Spain, Isturitz in France, and Ostuni in southern Italy. These locations provided evidence of the Gravettian culture, a period between 35,000 and 25,000 years ago characterized by specialized hunting and artistic diversity.

The researchers found that people from eastern and western Europe exchanged genes more frequently than previously thought. While previous theories suggested these groups remained genetically isolated, the new data indicates a significant flow of individuals across different territories. This suggests that the people of the Gravettian period maintained a more connected social network than earlier models predicted.

To overcome the scarcity of human fossils from the intense cold of the last glacial maximum, the team analyzed microscopic traces of DNA preserved in soil and sediment. In the El Mirón cave in northern Spain, they identified approximately 14,000 human genetic markers in sediment dating back 22,000 years. These markers linked the Solutrean people to the Fournol lineage, a genetic line already identified in western European Gravettian populations.

The findings indicate that while cultural traditions changed and evolved over time, the underlying genetic lineages of these populations persisted. This suggests that human groups did not disappear when their specific archaeological cultures shifted, but instead maintained biological continuity even as they adapted to different lifestyles and survival strategies.