The Oldest Anatomically Modern Humans from Far Southeast Europe: Direct Dating, Culture and Behavior

Sandrine Prat,Simon J Puaud,Laurent Crépin,Martina Lázničková-Galetová,Hélène Valladas,Alexander Yanevich,Dorothée G Drucker,Johannes Van Der Plicht,Stéphane C Péan,Fred H Smith

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0020834

Abstract

BackgroundAnatomically Modern Humans (AMHs) are known to have spread across Europe during the period coinciding with the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition. Whereas their dispersal into Western Europe is relatively well established, evidence of an early settlement of Eastern Europe by modern humans are comparatively scarce.Methodology/Principal FindingBased on a multidisciplinary approach for the study of human and faunal remains, we describe here the oldest AMH remains from the extreme southeast Europe, in conjunction with their associated cultural and paleoecological background. We applied taxonomy, paleoecology, and taphonomy combined with geomorphology, stratigraphy, archeology and radiocarbon dating. More than 160 human bone remains have been discovered. They originate from a well documented Upper Paleolithic archeological layer (Gravettian cultural tradition) from the site of Buran-Kaya III located in Crimea (Ukraine). The combination of non-metric dental traits and the morphology of the occipital bones allow us to attribute the human remains to Anatomically Modern Humans. A set of human and faunal remains from this layer has been radiocarbon dated by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry. The direct-dating results of human bone establish a secure presence of AMHs at 31,900+240/−220 BP in this region. They are the oldest direct evidence of the presence of AMHs in a well documented archeological context. Based on taphonomical observations (cut marks and distribution of skeletal elements), they represent the oldest Upper Paleolithic modern humans from Eastern Europe, showing post-mortem treatment of the dead as well.Conclusion/SignificanceThese findings are essential for the debate on the spread of modern humans in Europe during the Upper Paleolithic, as well as their cultural behaviors.

Highlights

Whereas the arrival and dispersal of modern humans into Western Europe is relatively well established, data related to their early settlement in Eastern Europe is relatively scarce [15,16]
Crimea is rich in Middle Paleolithic industries and Neanderthal remains (e.g. Kiik Koba (Kiik Koba 1 and 2 [18,19,20]), Zaskal’naya V and VI [21]) (Figure 1)
With the exception of one molar discovered in Unit G from Siuren I [22], dated to 30–28 ka BP [11], no Upper Paleolithic Anatomically Modern Humans (AMHs) remains have been reported in this region

Summary

Introduction

The timing of the appearance of early Anatomically Modern Humans (AMHs) in Europe, their hypothesized biological and cultural interactions by replacement or admixture with local populations (Neanderthals or other hominins [1,2]), and their association with Upper Paleolithic industries are issues subject to continuous debate [3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14] despite the increasing number of human fossils, archeological sites and new dates from previously discovered sites.Whereas the arrival and dispersal of modern humans into Western Europe is relatively well established, data related to their early settlement in Eastern Europe is relatively scarce [15,16]. Layer 6-1 has yielded the richest assemblage of lithic and bone industries, body ornaments (Figure 6), ochre fragments, and faunal, human and paleobotanical remains [41] from the site.

Results

Conclusion