ABSTRACT
The presence of human populations in Europe beforethe 500-ka age range indicated by advocates of the so-called ‘‘short chronology’’ (1) has been claimed for a long time on the basis of archaeological discoveries in various corners of the continent. Examples of pre500-ka localities are Le Vallonet, in France (2), Monte Poggiolo, in Italy (3), and those in the Guadix-Baza Basin, Spain (4). In 1994, unequivocal human fossil evidence pertaining to the time range at the boundary between Early and Middle Pleistocene was found in the sites of Atapuerca Gran Dolina (Spain; ref. 5), including a sample of fragmentary juvenile specimens and dental remains, and Ceprano (Italy; ref. 6), where an incomplete adult calvaria was discovered. Roughly one million years earlier, hominids are present at the ‘‘gates of Europe,’’ in Georgia (7). It is, however, to be demonstrated that early Homo diffused in Europe at that time, whereas an occupation of East Asia can be inferred (8-10).
