TY - JOUR

T1 - Initial Upper Palaeolithic Homo sapiens from Bacho Kiro Cave, Bulgaria

AU - Hublin, Jean Jacques

AU - Sirakov, Nikolay

AU - Aldeias, Vera

AU - Bailey, Shara

AU - Bard, Edouard

AU - Delvigne, Vincent

AU - Endarova, Elena

AU - Fagault, Yoann

AU - Fewlass, Helen

AU - Hajdinjak, Mateja

AU - Kromer, Bernd

AU - Krumov, Ivaylo

AU - Marreiros, João

AU - Martisius, Naomi L.

AU - Paskulin, Lindsey

AU - Sinet-Mathiot, Virginie

AU - Meyer, Matthias

AU - Pääbo, Svante

AU - Popov, Vasil

AU - Rezek, Zeljko

AU - Sirakova, Svoboda

AU - Skinner, Matthew M.

AU - Smith, Geoff M.

AU - Spasov, Rosen

AU - Talamo, Sahra

AU - Tuna, Thibaut

AU - Wacker, Lukas

AU - Welker, Frido

AU - Wilcke, Arndt

AU - Zahariev, Nikolay

AU - McPherron, Shannon P.

AU - Tsanova, Tsenka

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - The Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in Europe witnessed the replacement and partial absorption of local Neanderthal populations by Homo sapiens populations of African origin1. However, this process probably varied across regions and its details remain largely unknown. In particular, the duration of chronological overlap between the two groups is much debated, as are the implications of this overlap for the nature of the biological and cultural interactions between Neanderthals and H. sapiens. Here we report the discovery and direct dating of human remains found in association with Initial Upper Palaeolithic artefacts2, from excavations at Bacho Kiro Cave (Bulgaria). Morphological analysis of a tooth and mitochondrial DNA from several hominin bone fragments, identified through proteomic screening, assign these finds to H. sapiens and link the expansion of Initial Upper Palaeolithic technologies with the spread of H. sapiens into the mid-latitudes of Eurasia before 45 thousand years ago3. The excavations yielded a wealth of bone artefacts, including pendants manufactured from cave bear teeth that are reminiscent of those later produced by the last Neanderthals of western Europe4–6. These finds are consistent with models based on the arrival of multiple waves of H. sapiens into Europe coming into contact with declining Neanderthal populations7,8.

AB - The Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in Europe witnessed the replacement and partial absorption of local Neanderthal populations by Homo sapiens populations of African origin1. However, this process probably varied across regions and its details remain largely unknown. In particular, the duration of chronological overlap between the two groups is much debated, as are the implications of this overlap for the nature of the biological and cultural interactions between Neanderthals and H. sapiens. Here we report the discovery and direct dating of human remains found in association with Initial Upper Palaeolithic artefacts2, from excavations at Bacho Kiro Cave (Bulgaria). Morphological analysis of a tooth and mitochondrial DNA from several hominin bone fragments, identified through proteomic screening, assign these finds to H. sapiens and link the expansion of Initial Upper Palaeolithic technologies with the spread of H. sapiens into the mid-latitudes of Eurasia before 45 thousand years ago3. The excavations yielded a wealth of bone artefacts, including pendants manufactured from cave bear teeth that are reminiscent of those later produced by the last Neanderthals of western Europe4–6. These finds are consistent with models based on the arrival of multiple waves of H. sapiens into Europe coming into contact with declining Neanderthal populations7,8.

U2 - 10.1038/s41586-020-2259-z

DO - 10.1038/s41586-020-2259-z

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 32433609

AN - SCOPUS:85084515477

VL - 581

SP - 299

EP - 302

JO - Nature

JF - Nature

SN - 0028-0836

ER -