Neolithic pastoralism and plant community interactions at high altitudes of the Pyrenees, southern Europe

A groundbreaking sedimentary ancient DNA analysis from the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley in the Pyrenees reveals that Neolithic pastoralism, marked by continuous sheep and cattle presence starting 6500 and 5900 years ago respectively, played a significant role in shaping high-altitude Mediterranean landscapes. This challenges previous assumptions about sporadic Neolithic pastoral activity, demonstrating instead a sustained interaction with alpine ecosystems. The study identifies a major plant community shift around 6000 years ago, where deciduous forests transitioned to diverse open grasslands, becoming dominant by 4200 years ago. This transformation aligns with regional cooling climate trends and the continuous presence of domesticates, suggesting a synergistic relationship between human activity and environmental change during the Neolithic period.

Julián-Posada, I., Gil-Romera, G., Garcés-Pastor, S., Heintzman, P. D., Gómez, D., Fillat, F., Moreno, A., Lara-Recuero, J., Bover, P., Montes, L., Sierra, A., Valero-Garcés, B., Alsos, I. G., & González-Sampériz, P. (2025). Neolithic pastoralism and plant community interactions at high altitudes of the Pyrenees, southern Europe. Communications Earth & Environment, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02023-8