The debate over the origins of Europeans has often been framed as a question of cultural diffusion versus demic diffusion.

Both archaeological and genetic evidence strongly support demic diffusion—the idea that a population spread from the Middle East over the last 12,000 years, gradually replacing or assimilating earlier groups.

However, some researchers have challenged this view using the genetic concept of Time to Most Recent Common Ancestor (TMRCA). This approach has been used to argue in favor of cultural diffusion, suggesting that technological and cultural advancements spread without significant population movement.

The debate remains ongoing, with scholars examining the complex interplay between migration, gene flow, and cultural exchange in shaping Europe's early populations.