Early Pleistocene human occupation at the edge of the boreal zone in northwest Europe.
The dispersal of early humans from Africa by 1.75 Myr ago led to a marked expansion of their range, from the island of Flores in the east to the Iberian peninsula in the west. This range encompassed tropical forest, savannah and Mediterranean habitats, but has hitherto not been demonstrated beyond 45 degrees N. Until recently, early colonization in Europe was thought to be confined to the area south of the Pyrenees and Alps. However, evidence from Pakefield (Suffolk, UK) at approximately 0.7 Myr indicated that humans occupied northern European latitudes when a Mediterranean-type climate prevailed. This provided the basis for an 'ebb and flow' model, where human populations were thought to survive in southern refugia during cold stages, only expanding northwards during fully temperate climates. Here we present new evidence from Happisburgh (Norfolk, UK) demonstrating that Early Pleistocene hominins were present in northern Europe >0.78 Myr ago when they were able to survive at the southern edge of the boreal zone. This has significant implications for our understanding of early human behaviour, adaptation and survival, as well as the tempo and mode of colonization after their first dispersal out of Africa.
Parfitt
Simon A
SA
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 31-34 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PY, UK.
Ashton
Nick M
NM
Lewis
Simon G
SG
Abel
Richard L
RL
Coope
G Russell
GR
Field
Mike H
MH
Gale
Rowena
R
Hoare
Peter G
PG
Larkin
Nigel R
NR
Lewis
Mark D
MD
Karloukovski
Vassil
V
Maher
Barbara A
BA
Peglar
Sylvia M
SM
Preece
Richard C
RC
Whittaker
John E
JE
Stringer
Chris B
CB
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D001106:Archaeology; D002980:Climate; D017753:Ecosystem; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000266:history*; D004777:Environment; D005580:Fossils; D005843:Geography; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D049690:History, Ancient; D015186:Hominidae; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D010163:Paleontology; D045483:Rivers; D012621:Seasons; D013534:Survival; D013672:Technology / Q000266:history / Q000295:instrumentation; D013696:Temperature; D006113:United Kingdom