Gravettian 8 raw ancient samples

The Gravettians were a significant Upper Paleolithic culture, flourishing in Europe around 33,000 to 25,000 years ago. Known for their sophisticated hunting and survival techniques, they lived predominantly in open landscapes and took shelter in caves or constructed seasonal camps in areas rich with game. Their subsistence strategy was centered around hunting large mammals, such as mammoths, bison, and reindeer, supplemented by plant foraging. Gravettians employed specialized tools, including stone points and blade tools, and are notable for introducing the Gravette point, a sharp blade used for hunting.

Gravettians practiced social networking across regions, as seen by the distribution of similar artifacts across vast distances, suggesting interactions between different groups.

Although they are not known for pottery (pottery only emerged much later), Gravettians are renowned for their creation of symbolic art and figurines, especially the so-called “Venus figurines.” These statuettes, typically made from bone, ivory, or stone, depict stylized female forms with exaggerated features, possibly symbolizing fertility, womanhood, or spiritual beliefs. Gravettian burials reveal a reverence for their dead, with bodies sometimes interred with grave goods such as beads, jewelry, and tools, indicating ritualistic practices or a belief in an afterlife. The Gravettians contributed significantly to the genetic and cultural heritage of later European and Eurasian populations.

For this video, I gathered the genomes of 8 gravettian DNA samples, and ran them through my trait predictor tool for DNA analysis.