Neanderthals and Early Humans Reshaped Europe's Landscapes Before Agriculture - Shocking Study

Neanderthals early humans hunter-gatherers ecological impact prehistoric landscapes Europe ecosystems PLOS One study
Discover how Neanderthals and early modern humans transformed Europe's landscapes thousands of years before farming. This groundbreaking study from PLOS One reveals that these ancient populations actively shaped vegetation patterns through hunting and fire management.
Using advanced computer simulations, researchers modeled interactions between climate, wildlife, and human activities during the Last Interglacial and Early Holocene periods. The findings show that Mesolithic hunter-gatherers influenced up to 47% of plant distribution, while Neanderthals impacted 6% of plants and 14% of landscape openness.
Learn how fires opened forests and hunting reduced grazing, creating a dynamic environment far from untouched wilderness. This challenges the idea that humans only began altering ecosystems with agriculture.
Explore the implications for our species' ecological footprint and comparisons with regions like the Americas and Australia. Perfect for history buffs, science enthusiasts, and anyone interested in prehistoric humanity.
Keywords: Neanderthals, Homo sapiens, hunter-gatherers, Europe, ecosystems, vegetation patterns, Last Interglacial, Early Holocene, ecological impact