Long before early humans migrated from Africa, some human ancestors moved to other parts of the world, but they faced significant challenges at times. Scientists reported on Thursday evidence of a severe cold spell in the North Atlantic around 1.1 million years ago, which lasted nearly four thousand years and seemingly eradicated all early humans who inhabited Europe. Based on fossils from Spain, these individuals are believed to be among the first humans to spread outside of Africa.
The frozen period, comparable in severity to more recent ice ages, rendered Europe inhospitable for early humans who relied on hunting for their livelihood, as extreme cold deprived them of food resources. The researchers in the study published in the journal *Science* stated that these humans had no tolerance for the cold, as their bodies did not contain enough fat for protection, along with difficulties in providing clothing, shelter, and fire-starting tools.
It remains unclear how many individuals perished during this period. Chris Stringer, an anthropologist at the Natural History Museum in London, noted, "We don't have a significant idea about the numbers, but they were certainly small by modern standards. At most, they might have been in the tens of thousands across Europe."
