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In Europe, researchers led by Aarhus University used simulations with pollen data up to 125 thousand years to measure human impact of up to 47 percent on vegetation, changing the view of so-called untouched nature and drawing the attention of the scientific community.
Imagine Europe long before agriculture. Dense forests, large herds of elephants, bison, and aurochs, and small groups of humans wandering with spears and fire.
For a long time, the dominant idea was of a continent practically untouched before the advent of farming. Now, that view has changed.
Advanced computational simulations show that Neanderthals and Mesolithic hunters were already shaping European ecosystems tens of thousands of years before the start of agriculture. And the numbers are striking.
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Research Uses Artificial Intelligence and Pollen Data to Reconstruct Ancient Landscapes
An international team involving Aarhus University developed computational models to simulate how climate, large herbivores, natural fires, and humans influenced European vegetation during two warm periods in the past.
These models were compared with extensive records of fossilized pollen preserved in the soil. By cross-referencing simulations and real evidence, the researchers were able to estimate the weight of each factor on the vegetation cover.
The most striking detail was that climate, large animals, and natural fires alone did not explain the data. When human action was included in the simulations, the results began to match much more accurately.
Two Historical Periods Reveal Deep Change in Ecological Balance
The first analyzed interval was the Last Interglacial, between 125 thousand and 116 thousand years ago, when Neanderthals were the only humans in Europe.
The second was the beginning of the Holocene, between 12 thousand and 8 thousand years ago, shortly after the last Ice Age, when Mesolithic Homo sapiens hunters already inhabited the region.
During the Last Interglacial, Europe was home to an impressive megafauna. Elephants and rhinoceroses coexisted with bison, aurochs, horses, and deer.
In the Mesolithic, the scene was different. Many giant species had disappeared or suffered severe population decline. This process accompanied the global expansion of Homo sapiens.
Hunting and Fire Changed Up to 47 Percent of Vegetation Distribution
The simulations indicate that Mesolithic hunters may have influenced up to 47 percent of the distribution of plant types in Europe.
In the case of Neanderthals, the impact was smaller but measurable. About 6 percent in the distribution of plant types and approximately 14 percent in the opening of the vegetation.
The human influence occurred in two main ways. The first was the use of fire, which burned trees and shrubs. The second was the hunting of large herbivores, a factor that is often underestimated.
Fewer grazing animals meant less natural control of vegetation. The result was an increase in denser and more closed areas. In the case of Neanderthals, the effect was limited because the population was small and did not entirely eliminate large animals.
Elephants Up to 13 Tons Entered the Ecological Equation
The data shows that Neanderthals hunted even elephants that could weigh up to 13 tons. This reveals that these human groups had the capacity to interfere in complex ecological chains.
By reducing populations of large herbivores, they indirectly altered the structure of the landscapes. The vegetation became denser, modifying the dynamics between forests and open areas.
This point changes the historical narrative. Pre-agricultural Europe was not a completely untouched space. Humans already acted as active ecological agents long before farming.
Large-Scale Modeling Opens New Global Comparisons
The project integrated ecology, archaeology, and palynology, the study of ancient pollen. Additionally, it utilized optimization algorithms associated with artificial intelligence to test multiple possible scenarios.
According to the researchers, this represents the first simulation capable of quantifying the impact of Neanderthals and Mesolithic hunters on the European landscape at a continental scale.
The methodology paves the way for similar analyses in regions like North America, South America, and Australia, which were not inhabited by human species prior to Homo sapiens. This could allow for comparisons between landscapes with and without ancient human presence.
Even with the advancements, there are still gaps. Detailed local studies remain essential to deepen the understanding of how humans shaped the environment in prehistoric times.
The idea of a completely wild Europe before agriculture has lost ground. What seemed impossible to prove now has numerical and robust modeling backing it. Human impact began long before planting, and this changes how we understand our own ecological history.
What do you think of this discovery? Do you believe other regions of the planet were also shaped much earlier than we imagined? Leave your comment and share with those who like science and history.
AI SLOP
Are you nuts? You are talking about 1901.
I would check the dates in your article – 125 years?!! You’ve missed a few 000’s off 😉!!!