Emerging around 43,000 years ago, the Aurignacian was associated with modern humans and innovations including long blades, prepared-core bladelets and split-base bone and ivory points. Its transitional Late Aurignacian phase lasted about 33,000–26,000 BP, before the Gravettian emerged around 33,000 BP with Madian-type bone points and smaller bladelets. Ancient DNA from Goyet Caves and Kostenki 14 supports shared ancestry with later Gravettian populations. Bacho Kiro, from about 45,000 years ago, had roughly 3% Neanderthal ancestry, but its lineage contributed little to later Europeans; the Goyet-related lineage contributed most. Aurignacian traditions continued in Iberia and the Balkans until about 30,000 years ago.
Gravettian culture emerged around 33,000 BP as the Aurignacian waned
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Key facts
- The Early Aurignacian dates to roughly 43,000–34,000 years ago; its transitional Late Aurignacian phase lasted about 33,000–26,000 BP.
- The Gravettian emerged around 33,000 BP and continued until roughly 20,000 years ago.
- Madian-type split-based bone points and smaller bladelets are characteristic Gravettian tools.
- Goyet Caves and Kostenki 14 genomes show ancestry shared with later Gravettian populations.
- Bacho Kiro, dated to about 45,000 years ago, had roughly 3% Neanderthal ancestry; the data do not establish a 19% shared Aurignacian-ancestry figure.
- The Bacho Kiro-related lineage contributed little to later Europeans, while the Goyet-related lineage contributed most of their ancestry.
- Aurignacian traditions persisted in Iberia and the Balkans until around 30,000 years ago.
Sources
nature.com
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journals.openedition.org
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pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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dspace.library.uvic.ca
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link.springer.com
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nature.com
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pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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The Aurignacians | The Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cavearcheologie.culture.gouv.fr
The chronology of this vast cultural phase, perceptible on a European scale, extends from 43,000 to 35,000 years BP. The first cultures of the Gravettian belong ...
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