Continuous presence of proto-cereals in Anatolia since 2.3 Ma, and their possible co-evolution with large herbivores and hominins.

摘要: Cereals are a central resource for the human diet and traditionally assumed to have evolved from wild grasses at onset of Neolithic under pressure agriculture. Here we demonstrate that cereals may significantly longer more diverse lineage, based on study 0–2.3 Ma, 601 m long sedimentary core Lake Acigol (South-West Anatolia). Pollen characteristic is abundant throughout sequence. The presence large lakes within this arid bioclimatic zone led concentration herbivore herds, as indicated by continuous occurrence coprophilous fungi spores in record. Our hypothesis effects overgrazing soils herbaceous stratum, during period, genetic modifications Poaceae taxa appearance proto-cereals. simultaneous hominins attested early about 1.4 Ma lake vicinity, 1.8 Ma Georgia Levant. These ancient probably benefited availability these proto-cereals, rich nutrients, well various other edible plants, opening way, region Middle East, process domestication, which reached its full development Neolithic.