Prehistoric spread rates and genetic clines

Abstract

The seminal book The Neolithic transition and the genetics of populations in Europe by Ammerman and Cavalli-Sforza (1984) contains the analysis of archaeological data that led to the result that the spread rate of the Neolithic in Europe was on average about 1 km/yr. It also contains the direct application of a mathematical model that provides an explanation for this value (1 km/yr), the so-called 'wave-of-advance model'. The book also reviews work on the possibility that genetic clines were formed due to the spread of the Neolithic in Europe. This paper is a review of work on both topics since their first joint paper, which was published 50 years ago (Ammerman and Cavalli-Sforza 1971). We also discuss the importance of these and related contributions by Cavalli-Sforza, the present state of the art, and possible lines of future progress. Based on "Ammerman AJ, Cavalli-Sforza LL. The Neolithic transition and the genetics of populations in Europe. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. 1984”.