Science

After Migrating Out of Africa, Early Humans Spent a Whole 20,000 Years in the Persian Plateau: Study

Pebdeh Cave located in the southern Zagros Mountains. Pebdeh was occupied by hunter-gatherers as early as 42,000 years ago. (Mohammad Javad Shoaee) — Pebdeh Cave located in the southern Zagros Mountains. Pebdeh was occupied by hunter-gatherers as early as 42,000 years ago.
(Mohammad Javad Shoaee)

When early Homo sapiens set out of Africa and began their long and arduous journey towards Eurasia, their path was far from straightforward. Without modern-day indulgences like GPS navigation, our early human ancestors pretty much had to wing it. While historians have managed to trace quite a bit of their convoluted tracks, a rather large gap remained — a 20,000-year period where their whereabouts were a mystery. New research, however, has unearthed their surprising whereabouts.

The study, published in Nature Communications, suggests that before fanning out across Europe, East Asia, and beyond, humans spent a lengthy stretch of time between 70,000 and 45,000 years ago in the Persian Plateau of all places.

Home to present-day Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkmenistan and Pakistan, this arid landscape nestled between towering mountains has long been overlooked. But a recent multidisciplinary investigation, combining genetics, paleoecology, and archaeology changes things. The Persian Plateau, it turns out, wasn't just a stopover on the human migration route, it was a full-fledged staycation.

Several key findings support this exciting theory. Firstly, genetic analysis, using a novel technique to untangle millennia of mixed ancestry, identified a distinct genetic signature in the region. This signature, present in both ancient and modern populations, suggests a long-term presence of humans on the plateau.

Furthermore, paleoecological modelling indicates that the plateau offered a surprisingly swanky (by early human standards) environment compared to the surrounding areas, making it a more hospitable environment capable of sustaining larger populations.

This discovery has profound implications. Professor Michael Petraglia, co-author of the study, highlights the need for further archaeological exploration: "The Persian plateau emerges as a key region." Imagine the potential: unearthing settlements, tools, and remnants of daily life that could illuminate a missing chapter in human history.

The impact extends beyond archaeology. Lead author Leonardo Vallini emphasises, "The discovery elucidates a 20,000-year-long portion of history." This period witnessed interactions with Neanderthals — who may or may not have been thrilled at the arrival of these new tenants — and the diversification of Eurasian populations.

Professor Luca Pagani, another co-author, says that this discovery enriches our understanding of our species' journey across continents. The once-overlooked plateau now stands as a testament to the adaptability and resilience of early humans, a testament to a vibrant crossroads that shaped our past.

The findings of this study have been detailed in Nature Communications and can be accessed here.

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