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+--- Thread: Research Europe’s “untouched” wilderness was shaped by Neanderthals and hunter-gatherers (/thread-19791.html)
Europe’s “untouched” wilderness was shaped by Neanderthals and hunter-gatherers - C C - Feb 15, 2026
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260212025613.htm
INTRO: Even before farming, humans were reshaping Europe’s ecosystems. By hunting massive animals and using fire, Neanderthals and early hunter-gatherers left a surprising and lasting imprint on the landscape.
Picture Europe tens of thousands of years ago. Thick forests covered much of the land. Herds of elephants, bison, and aurochs roamed freely. Small bands of humans moved through this world carrying fire and spears.
New research suggests those early people changed their surroundings far more than scientists once believed.
An international team led in part by researchers at Aarhus University used advanced computer simulations to examine how climate, large animals, natural fires, and humans shaped European vegetation during two past warm periods. The team then compared those simulations with extensive fossil pollen data from the same eras. By matching the models with real world evidence preserved in pollen, they were able to estimate how much each factor influenced plant cover.
The results point to a clear conclusion. Both Neanderthals and later Mesolithic hunter-gatherers significantly altered vegetation patterns across Europe, long before agriculture began.
"The study paints a new picture of the past," says Jens-Christian Svenning, professor of biology at Aarhus University. The project involved experts in archaeology, geology, and ecology from The Netherlands, Denmark, France, and UK. It became clear to us that climate change, large herbivores and natural fires alone could not explain the pollen data results. Factoring humans into the equation -- and the effects of human-induced fires and hunting -- resulted in a much better match," says Jens-Christian Svenning... (MORE - details)