Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery regarding early human migration, pinpointing the Persian Plateau as a crucial hub between 70 and 60 thousand years ago. According to a study published in Nature Communications, genetic evidence and paleoecological models have led experts to believe that the Persian Plateau was the likely homeland of all early Eurasians.
Led by researchers from the University of Padova, University of Bologna, Griffith University, Max Planck Institute, and University of Turin, the study sheds light on where early humans resided during the initial phases of Eurasian colonization. It was determined that the Persian Plateau was not only suitable for human occupation but could also sustain a larger population compared to other parts of West Asia.
The findings have opened up new opportunities for archaeological and palaeoanthropological research, particularly within the ERC Synergy Project ‘Last Neanderthals’. The study concluded that the Persian Plateau played a pivotal role in the shared history of Europeans, East Asians, Native Americans, and Oceanians for 20,000 years.
Moreover, this part of the human journey out of Africa is where humans encountered and interbred with Neanderthals, adding another layer of complexity to our understanding of early human migration patterns. Overall, this study has provided valuable insights into the origins of early Eurasians and the role of the Persian Plateau in shaping the genetic diversity of modern populations.
