Volcanic ash layers illuminate the resilience of Neanderthals and early modern humans to natural hazards

John Lowe; Nick Barton; Simon Blockley; Christopher Bronk Ramsey; Victoria L. Cullen; William Davies; Clive Gamble; Katharine Grant; Mark Hardiman; Rupert Housley; Christine S. Lane; Sharen Lee; Mark Lewis; Alison  MacLeod; Martin Menzies; Wolfgang Müller; Mark Pollard; Catherine Price; Andrew P. Roberts; Eelco J. Rohling; Chris Satow; Victoria C. Smith; Chris B. Stringer; Emma L. Tomlinson; Dustin White; Paul Albert; Ilenia  Arienzo; Graeme Barker; Dusan Boric; Antonio  Carandente; Lucia Civetta; Catherine Ferrier; Jean-Luc Gaudelli; Panagiotis Karkanas; Margarita Koumouzelis; Ulrich C. Muller; Giovanni  Orsi; Jorg Pross; Mauro Rosi; Ljiljiana Shalamanov-Korobar; Nikolay Sirakov; Polychronis C. Tzedakis

doi:10.1073/pnas.1204579109

Volcanic ash layers illuminate the resilience of Neanderthals and early modern humans to natural hazards

John Lowe, Nick Barton, Simon Blockley, Christopher Bronk Ramsey, Victoria L. Cullen, William Davies, Clive Gamble, Katharine Grant, Mark Hardiman, Rupert Housley, Christine S. Lane, Sharen Lee, Mark Lewis, Alison MacLeod, Martin Menzies, Wolfgang Müller, Mark Pollard, Catherine Price, Andrew P. Roberts, Eelco J. RohlingChris Satow, Victoria C. Smith, Chris B. Stringer, Emma L. Tomlinson, Dustin White, Paul Albert, Ilenia Arienzo, Graeme Barker, Dusan Boric, Antonio Carandente, Lucia Civetta, Catherine Ferrier, Jean-Luc Gaudelli, Panagiotis Karkanas, Margarita Koumouzelis, Ulrich C. Muller, Giovanni Orsi, Jorg Pross, Mauro Rosi, Ljiljiana Shalamanov-Korobar, Nikolay Sirakov, Polychronis C. Tzedakis

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Marked changes in human dispersal and development during the
Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition have been attributed to
massive volcanic eruption and/or severe climatic deterioration. We
test this concept using records of volcanic ash layers of the Campanian
Ignimbrite eruption dated to ca. 40,000 y ago (40 ka B.P.).
The distribution of the Campanian Ignimbrite has been enhanced
by the discovery of cryptotephra deposits (volcanic ash layers that
are not visible to the naked eye) in archaeological cave sequences.
They enable us to synchronize archaeological and paleoclimatic
records through the period of transition from Neanderthal to the
earliest anatomically modern human populations in Europe. Our
results confirm that the combined effects of a major volcanic eruption
and severe climatic cooling failed to have lasting impacts on
Neanderthals or early modern humans in Europe. We infer that
modern humans proved a greater competitive threat to indigenous
populations than natural disasters.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	13532-13537
Journal	Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume	109
Issue number	34
Early online date	23 Jul 2012
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1204579109
Publication status	Published - 21 Aug 2012

Keywords

Neanderthals
MODERN HUMANS
Paleolithic Transitions
VOLCANIC ASH
ABRUPT CLIMATE-CHANGE

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1073/pnas.1204579109

http://www.pnas.org/content/109/34/13532

RESET:RESponse of humans to abrupt Environmental Transitions
Lowe, J. (PI)
1/01/08 → 30/06/13
Project: Research

Cite this

Lowe, J., Barton, N., Blockley, S., Ramsey, C. B., Cullen, V. L., Davies, W., Gamble, C., Grant, K., Hardiman, M., Housley, R., Lane, C. S., Lee, S., Lewis, M., MacLeod, A., Menzies, M., Müller, W., Pollard, M., Price, C., Roberts, A. P., ... Tzedakis, P. C. (2012). Volcanic ash layers illuminate the resilience of Neanderthals and early modern humans to natural hazards. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 109(34), 13532-13537. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1204579109

@article{3e1e0537a3924bb998361c36bdaf0604,

title = "Volcanic ash layers illuminate the resilience of Neanderthals and early modern humans to natural hazards",

abstract = "Marked changes in human dispersal and development during theMiddle to Upper Paleolithic transition have been attributed tomassive volcanic eruption and/or severe climatic deterioration. Wetest this concept using records of volcanic ash layers of the CampanianIgnimbrite eruption dated to ca. 40,000 y ago (40 ka B.P.).The distribution of the Campanian Ignimbrite has been enhancedby the discovery of cryptotephra deposits (volcanic ash layers thatare not visible to the naked eye) in archaeological cave sequences.They enable us to synchronize archaeological and paleoclimaticrecords through the period of transition from Neanderthal to theearliest anatomically modern human populations in Europe. Ourresults confirm that the combined effects of a major volcanic eruptionand severe climatic cooling failed to have lasting impacts onNeanderthals or early modern humans in Europe. We infer thatmodern humans proved a greater competitive threat to indigenouspopulations than natural disasters.",

keywords = "Neanderthals, MODERN HUMANS, Paleolithic Transitions, VOLCANIC ASH, ABRUPT CLIMATE-CHANGE",

author = "John Lowe and Nick Barton and Simon Blockley and Ramsey, {Christopher Bronk} and Cullen, {Victoria L.} and William Davies and Clive Gamble and Katharine Grant and Mark Hardiman and Rupert Housley and Lane, {Christine S.} and Sharen Lee and Mark Lewis and Alison MacLeod and Martin Menzies and Wolfgang M{\"u}ller and Mark Pollard and Catherine Price and Roberts, {Andrew P.} and Rohling, {Eelco J.} and Chris Satow and Smith, {Victoria C.} and Stringer, {Chris B.} and Tomlinson, {Emma L.} and Dustin White and Paul Albert and Ilenia Arienzo and Graeme Barker and Dusan Boric and Antonio Carandente and Lucia Civetta and Catherine Ferrier and Jean-Luc Gaudelli and Panagiotis Karkanas and Margarita Koumouzelis and Muller, {Ulrich C.} and Giovanni Orsi and Jorg Pross and Mauro Rosi and Ljiljiana Shalamanov-Korobar and Nikolay Sirakov and Tzedakis, {Polychronis C.}",

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doi = "10.1073/pnas.1204579109",

language = "English",

volume = "109",

pages = "13532--13537",

journal = "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America",

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Lowe, J, Barton, N, Blockley, S, Ramsey, CB, Cullen, VL, Davies, W, Gamble, C, Grant, K, Hardiman, M, Housley, R, Lane, CS, Lee, S, Lewis, M, MacLeod, A, Menzies, M, Müller, W, Pollard, M, Price, C, Roberts, AP, Rohling, EJ, Satow, C, Smith, VC, Stringer, CB, Tomlinson, EL, White, D, Albert, P, Arienzo, I, Barker, G, Boric, D, Carandente, A, Civetta, L, Ferrier, C, Gaudelli, J-L, Karkanas, P, Koumouzelis, M, Muller, UC, Orsi, G, Pross, J, Rosi, M, Shalamanov-Korobar, L, Sirakov, N & Tzedakis, PC 2012, 'Volcanic ash layers illuminate the resilience of Neanderthals and early modern humans to natural hazards', Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 109, no. 34, pp. 13532-13537. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1204579109

TY - JOUR

T1 - Volcanic ash layers illuminate the resilience of Neanderthals and early modern humans to natural hazards

AU - Lowe, John

AU - Barton, Nick

AU - Blockley, Simon

AU - Ramsey, Christopher Bronk

AU - Cullen, Victoria L.

AU - Davies, William

AU - Gamble, Clive

AU - Grant, Katharine

AU - Hardiman, Mark

AU - Housley, Rupert

AU - Lane, Christine S.

AU - Lee, Sharen

AU - Lewis, Mark

AU - MacLeod, Alison

AU - Menzies, Martin

AU - Müller, Wolfgang

AU - Pollard, Mark

AU - Price, Catherine

AU - Roberts, Andrew P.

AU - Rohling, Eelco J.

AU - Satow, Chris

AU - Smith, Victoria C.

AU - Stringer, Chris B.

AU - Tomlinson, Emma L.

AU - White, Dustin

AU - Albert, Paul

AU - Arienzo, Ilenia

AU - Barker, Graeme

AU - Boric, Dusan

AU - Carandente, Antonio

AU - Civetta, Lucia

AU - Ferrier, Catherine

AU - Gaudelli, Jean-Luc

AU - Karkanas, Panagiotis

AU - Koumouzelis, Margarita

AU - Muller, Ulrich C.

AU - Orsi, Giovanni

AU - Pross, Jorg

AU - Rosi, Mauro

AU - Shalamanov-Korobar, Ljiljiana

AU - Sirakov, Nikolay

AU - Tzedakis, Polychronis C.

PY - 2012/8/21

Y1 - 2012/8/21

N2 - Marked changes in human dispersal and development during theMiddle to Upper Paleolithic transition have been attributed tomassive volcanic eruption and/or severe climatic deterioration. Wetest this concept using records of volcanic ash layers of the CampanianIgnimbrite eruption dated to ca. 40,000 y ago (40 ka B.P.).The distribution of the Campanian Ignimbrite has been enhancedby the discovery of cryptotephra deposits (volcanic ash layers thatare not visible to the naked eye) in archaeological cave sequences.They enable us to synchronize archaeological and paleoclimaticrecords through the period of transition from Neanderthal to theearliest anatomically modern human populations in Europe. Ourresults confirm that the combined effects of a major volcanic eruptionand severe climatic cooling failed to have lasting impacts onNeanderthals or early modern humans in Europe. We infer thatmodern humans proved a greater competitive threat to indigenouspopulations than natural disasters.

AB - Marked changes in human dispersal and development during theMiddle to Upper Paleolithic transition have been attributed tomassive volcanic eruption and/or severe climatic deterioration. Wetest this concept using records of volcanic ash layers of the CampanianIgnimbrite eruption dated to ca. 40,000 y ago (40 ka B.P.).The distribution of the Campanian Ignimbrite has been enhancedby the discovery of cryptotephra deposits (volcanic ash layers thatare not visible to the naked eye) in archaeological cave sequences.They enable us to synchronize archaeological and paleoclimaticrecords through the period of transition from Neanderthal to theearliest anatomically modern human populations in Europe. Ourresults confirm that the combined effects of a major volcanic eruptionand severe climatic cooling failed to have lasting impacts onNeanderthals or early modern humans in Europe. We infer thatmodern humans proved a greater competitive threat to indigenouspopulations than natural disasters.

KW - Neanderthals

KW - MODERN HUMANS

KW - Paleolithic Transitions

KW - VOLCANIC ASH

KW - ABRUPT CLIMATE-CHANGE

U2 - 10.1073/pnas.1204579109

DO - 10.1073/pnas.1204579109

M3 - Article

SN - 0027-8424

VL - 109

SP - 13532

EP - 13537

JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

IS - 34

ER -

Volcanic ash layers illuminate the resilience of Neanderthals and early modern humans to natural hazards

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Projects

RESET:RESponse of humans to abrupt Environmental Transitions

Cite this