The upper paleolithic begins in Europe with the arrival of anatomically modern humans, Cro-Magnons, from the Near East through Anatolia, and the decline of Neanderthals around 40,000 years ago.

Cro-magnons differentiated themselves through stone tools and technology of their construction, often use of bone and antlers (especially for projectiles), and artistic creativity. During this time, Cro-Magnons created the first cave paintings of animals (the Chauvet cave), the first painted stones (Fumane cave and Hohle Fels cave) and the first proper figurines (Venus from Hohle Fels, man-lion from Hohlenstein-Stadel cave, and more animal figurines from Vogelherd cave).

The human remains and fossils of the earliest part of the upper paleolithic (the Aurignacian) are rare finds, the oldest being Peștera cu Oase caves (Romania). While graves were found in the Cueva Morin cave (Spain), the human remains inside have completely disintegrated. In Slovenia, the prominent Aurignacian sites are Špehovka cave, Potočka zijalka, Mokriška cave and Divje babe.

The arrival of Cro-Magnons actually accelerated the cultural and technological progress of them and the Neanderthals. The two actually made the first contact thousands of years before in the Near East, where there are largely no differences between them when it comes to archeological finds. One was making the same tools as the other.

The contacts between Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons could range anywhere between aggressive and friendly. Genetic research showed that the two species did mix. Today, a native, caucasian population of Europe can have up to 5% Neanderthal genes, though this usually ranges between 2 and 3 percent.

Assimilation is currently one of the main theories for Neanderthals’ extinction. The Cro-Magnons posed a bigger population and better survival techniques, which helped with food supply, fertility and the survival rate.

Sources: docs.google.com/document/d/1mnK9tpEvz9UgeVWuUh8fPF…

Edited with Vegas Pro 19

#History #Archeology #Shorts