News Archaeology

Ancient DNA unveils disparate fates of Ice Age hunter-gatherers in Europe

A new study is the largest to date of ancient Europeans’ DNA

An artistic portrayal of a southeastern European hunter-gatherer from the Gravettian culture. The man has dark skin and dark hair. He is wearing a skull cap, necklace and a fur shawl.

This artistic portrayal of a southeastern European hunter-gatherer from the Gravettian culture, which dates to between 33,000 and 26,000 years ago, was inspired by newly analyzed genetic evidence and previous archaeological finds.

Tom Bjoerklund

By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

Ice sheets expanded across much of northern Europe from around 25,000 to 19,000 years ago, making a huge expanse of land unlivable.