The spread of agriculture among ancient communities was powered more by human connections than by environmental change, according to a groundbreaking new study led by researchers from the University of Vienna and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. Published in Nature in April 2025, the study combined archaeological evidence, genetic analysis, and environmental data to show that early farming knowledge spread through small-scale social interactions, including trade, intermarriage, and knowledge-sharing, rather than through mass migrations or climate pressures alone.
The research team, including prominent scientists like Dr. Ron Pinhasi, analyzed ancient DNA and material artifacts across Europe, the Near East, and parts of Asia. They found that in regions like southeastern Europe, early farmers often mixed with local hunter-gatherers, with up to 30% of the farmers’ genetic material coming from indigenous groups. Shared pottery styles, tools, and farming techniques reveal that ancient communities gradually adopted agriculture by interacting with neighboring groups. This new perspective highlights how social networks — not just survival needs — played a crucial role in one of humanity’s most transformative shifts: the rise of agriculture. More