A large-scale study of fossil human teeth from Ice Age Europe reveals that climate change had a significant impact on prehistoric human populations. Using the largest dataset of human fossils from Ice Age Europe to date, an international research team has shown how hunter-gatherers coped with severe climatic changes between 47,000 and 7,000 years ago. The study, published in Science Advances, highlights how population sizes declined sharply during the coldest periods, and in some regions, such as Western Europe, Ice Age populations even faced extinction. Getting to Grips With Ice Age Demography The research, led by Dr. Hannes Rathmann from the Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment at the University of Tübingen, marks a significant breakthrough in understanding the demographic history of Ice Age Europeans. Traditional methods of analyzing ancient DNA have been hampered by the limited availability and poor preservation of fossils. To overcome these challenges, the research team developed a novel method based on a machine learning algorithm, which allowed them to analyze morphological traits in teeth, the hardest tissue in the human body and the most commonly preserved fossil element. Read moreSection: NewsEvolution & Human OriginsRead Later