Neanderthals and Mesolithic hunter-gatherers shaped European landscapes long before agriculture, study reveals

Neanderthals and Mesolithic hunter-gatherers shaped European landscapes long before agriculture, study reveals

Imagine Europe tens of thousands of years ago: dense forests, large herds of elephants, bison and aurochs—and small groups of people armed with fire and spears. A new study shows that these people left a much clearer mark on the landscape than previously assumed.

European hunter-gatherers altered landscapes long before farming

Berlin, Germany (SPX) Oct 24, 2025 New evidence has revealed that humans significantly influenced Europe's vegetation tens of thousands of years before agricultural practices began. Recent research led by Aarhus University, using computer simulations and analysis of pollen records, shows that both Neanderthals and Mesolithic hunter-gatherers changed the landscape through hunting and fire. Researchers investigated two warm p