From Newsgroup: sci.anthropology.paleo


A lot covered in this paper (open access).

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10816-025-09752-2

Abstract
The occupation of Western Europe is part of a
greater process, the first rCLOut of AfricarCY.
Within this process, a wide chronological gap
is documented between the first occupations in
Asia and those in Western Europe. The earliest
occupations of Western Europe are dated around
1.4rCo1.2 Ma and located in Southern Europe, in
the Iberian Peninsula and Italy. A punctuated
advance towards the North is discerned with the
first occupations in England being as old as
0.9 Ma. Through a synthesis of up-to-date
literature, this paper aims to provide an
updated, robust and more integrated
understanding of the processes that shaped the
earliest human occupations of Western Europe.
Throughout our review and analysis, the early
occupation of Western Europe is revealed as a
complex, multi-phased process marked by
episodic population incursions and turnovers.
The archaeological record, of which we
demonstrate a considerable bias in likelihood
of discovery, shows that colonization began
around 1.4rCo1.2 Ma, with successive waves
introducing new distinct hominin species,
technological repertoires and adaptive
strategies. Of these successive waves, at
least four are clearly visible in the record,
although we acknowledge that with a high
probability there were more waves of varying
intensities. Integrated technological,
faunistic and taphonomic studies will be key
going forward. We finally advocate for a
multiscale approach based on complex systems
theory and an array of computational modelling
techniques to gain a more comprehensive and
robust knowledge of the process of population
of Western Europe.

From the conclusion
"Rather than reflecting a single wave of
colonization, the archaeological record
reveals a mosaic of dispersals, population
replacements and cultural variability. This
study contributes to the field by providing
an updated synthesis of the archaeological
record that distinguishes at least four
major dispersal phases; proposing a
multiscalar frameworkrComicro, meso and
macrorCoto integrate local site data with
broader environmental and demographic
dynamics through the lens of complex
systems theory."

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