Prehistoric spread rates and genetic clines
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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”