THE EUROPEAN POPULATION CHANGES DURING MIS 2 AND 3

Starting from an extensive database of Palaeolithic sites with their characteristics and the available dating, a GIS based approach is used to investigate the spatial distribution of the sites over Europe. The CalPal (Cologne Radiocarbon Calibration & Paleoclimate Research Package) software is used to correlate the sites with the rapidly changing climatic conditions during MIS 2 and 3. On a background of the present-day natural vegetation distribution, the poster maps the presence of sites in the area. Maps are reflecting the changing conditions in relation to the Heinrich events, the succession of stadial and interstadial conditions. A critical selection of available dating is applied. Although the resolution of the dating is still poor, the human distribution over Europe is clearly related to the changing climatic conditions.