During the Quaternary period, significant climatic fluctuations influenced the spatial distribution and survival of human populations, plants, and animals. The following hypotheses explore the possible connection between human dispersal and the distribution of plants like Sempervivum tectorum and associated artifacts:
- Climate as a Driver of Human and Ecological Dynamics:
The Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) provided challenging yet habitable conditions for humans and ecosystems. As human populations adapted to changing climates, they likely facilitated the movement of plant and animal species, particularly those with ecological or cultural significance.
- Human Agency in Plant and Animal Dispersal:
- Historical cultivation practices, as seen with Sempervivum tectorum, may suggest early examples of human-mediated dispersal. Genetic evidence shows that populations of S. tectorum in disjunct locations, such as the Rhine Gorge and the Massif Central, may result from human activity or natural glacial migration patterns.
- The overlap between archaeological evidence of human settlements and the presence of certain plant species implies an interaction where humans may have served as vectors for species distribution.
- Genetic and Archaeological Correlations:
The phylogenetic uniqueness of S. tectorum in different regions aligns with the archaeological timeline of human migration. For example, hybridization patterns in S. tectorum and its niche adaptation could reflect human influence during periods of significant climatic transitions, such as the LGM and the Late Glacial.
- Artifacts as Markers of Interaction:
Archaeological sites with human artifacts provide context for understanding dispersal routes. By linking these sites with the distribution patterns of species like S. tectorum, we can hypothesize that human populations not only adapted to but actively modified their environments.
This project aims to explore these interactions by integrating geospatial data, phylogenetic studies, and radiocarbon-dated human artifacts. The resulting insights could enhance our understanding of how humans shaped the ecosystems of Quaternary Europe.
(Interactive) Map of Vegetation Zones and Human Sites in Quaternary Europe
Welcome to PalaeoMapEurope, a Python-based project for creating (interactive) geospatial maps. These maps visualize vegetation zones, human activity sites, and radiocarbon ages during the Quaternary period in Europe. This tool is built with Folium and Matplotlib and is designed for archaeologists, geographers, and climate researchers interested in the spatial patterns of human-environment interactions during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and beyond.
To view the interactive map, click the link below:
- 🌍 Interactive Geospatial Maps: Built with Folium for enhanced interactivity.
- 🗺️ GeoJSON Integration: Display vegetation zones and spatial features.
- 🎨 Radiocarbon Dating Visualization: Color-coded points with a gradient legend.
- 📊 Data-Driven Maps: Use CSV files for human and archaeological site information.
- 🛠️ Customizable and Extensible: Add new layers and styling with ease.
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Clone this repository:
git clone https://github.com/yourusername/PalaeoMapEurope.git cd PalaeoMapEurope -
Install dependencies:
pip install -r requirements.txt
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Run the Python script:
- Data will be downloaded and prepared during runtime (required datasets).
- GeoJSON files for vegetation zones and Iceshield extends will be created.
For dynamic and interactive Folium Website:
python palaeomap_generator_folium.pyFor a publication ready PNG image file:
python palaeomap_generator_plt.pyImage files and Folium website will be created inside the outputs folder.
The book Ehlers, Gibbard, Hughes: Quaternary Glaciations - Extent and Chronology Volume 15: A closer look presents an up-to-date, detailed overview of Quaternary glaciations all over the world, including the presentation of digital maps which can be used in a geographical information system (GIS) and all recent information on the impact global and climate change has on these glaciations and the impact on our Earth. The maps (Google Earth files) as well as related digital information are available on this companion website. Ehlers et al. 2011: Quaternary Glaciations - Extent and Chronology: A Closer Look. Elsevier: Oxford, UK. Online supplementary information. [3 February 2014].
Ray, N. and Adams, J. M., (2001)
Tallavaara, M. et al., (2015)
doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1503784112
Fabritzek, A. G., Kadereit, J. W., (2018).
10.3372/wi.48.48310
Hybridization, ecogeographical displacement and the emergence of new lineages – A genotyping‐by‐sequencing and ecological niche and species distribution modelling study of Sempervivum tectorum L. (Houseleek)
Fabritzek, A. G., Griebeler, E. M., Kadereit, J. W., (2021).
Contributions are welcome! If you have ideas, improvements, or additional data sources to include, feel free to open an issue or submit a pull request.
This project is open-source and distributed under the MIT License. While using or modifying the code, please also ensure that you cite the original datasets and sources as described above to give proper credit to the original authors and data providers.
If you use this project in your research or publications, please cite:
Armin Fabritzek. (2025). PalaeoMapEurope: Connection Between Human Dispersal and Plant/Animal Distribution [Software]. Available at https://github.com/arminfabritzek/PalaeoMapEurope
For questions, suggestions, or feedback, please contact Armin or open an issue on GitHub.
Happy Mapping! 🎉