Phylogeography of the Neanderthals of the Iberian Peninsula. State of the art
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17735/cyg.v37i3-4.102641Keywords:
Neanderthal, Phylogeography, Iberian Peninsula, Ancient DNA, Middle PaleolithicAbstract
The ability to analyze Neanderthal DNA extracted from skeletal remains and sediments has opened up opportunities for proposing models regarding the phylogeography of this extinct species. The fields of archaeo-paleontology now face the challenge of providing meaningful insights through a dialogue with genetic data. The Iberian Peninsula's rich archaeological record can play a pivotal role in advancing this area of study. Thus far, researchers have identified three separate radiations of Neanderthal populations. Around 145-130 ka (during MIS 6), a divergence occurred, leading to the emergence of Neanderthal populations in Altai (Siberia), as well as other ancient European groups in Hohlenstein-Stadel (Germany) and Scladina (Belgium). Additionally, there is evidence of Neanderthal presence in the lower levels of the Galería de las Estatuas (GE) in Iberia, complemented by findings in Valdegova, both located in Spain's Burgos region. Approximately 105 ka, a second wave of Neanderthal dispersal is discerned, in which western populations extended their presence through Siberia and supplanted the indigenous population, often referred to as the 'Altai Neanderthal.' The possible origin of this dispersal can be traced back to the Micoquian cultures of Central and Eastern Europe, Crimea, and the Caucasus. In the Iberian Peninsula, this event is marked by the emergence of novel genetic profiles observed in the upper levelsof the GE and possibly in Gibraltar (Forbes Quarry). Around 55 Ka, another Neanderthal radiation event was identified, possibly as a result of population fragmentation during MIS 4. This gave rise to what is commonly referred to as the 'late Neanderthals,' encompassing the diversity represented at sites such as Goyet and Spy in Belgium, Vindija in Croatia, and Mezmaiskaya 2 in the North Caucasus. This event marked the onset of a second population replacement that occurred between 47 and 39 ka, as evidenced at Mezmaiskaya (Russian Federation). The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from El Sidrón in Spain falls within this group, along with the holotype of the Neanderthal species (Feldhofer, Germany). It remains to be determined which of the other Iberian collections would be classified within this group, and whether relict populations that coexisted with the newly arrived groups persisted. Around 43 ka, it appears that another potential wave of Neanderthal migrations took place in Iberia, this time associated with the Chatelperronian culture, which represents a distinct departure from the technology of the preceding Middle Paleolithic. These findings collectively signal a significant shift in the way we study the evolution of H. neanderthalensis. The fields of classical and molecular sciences are now converging to formulate a comprehensive theory on the phylogeography of Neanderthals.
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