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Department of Archaeology

 
Read more at: Exploring locomotor and biomechanical diversity in the hominin fossil record based on long bone external morphology

Exploring locomotor and biomechanical diversity in the hominin fossil record based on long bone external morphology

Our knowledge of human evolution is limited by several factors. One is tightly linked to the nature of the fossil record, as bones of our extinct human relatives and other primate species rarely appear in archaeological and paleontological sites, and when they do, they very commonly appear in an isolated fashion and/or are highly fragmented. These factors more severely affect studies of limb bones, which have been vaguely analysed or even ignored in certain cases.


Read more at: NEMO-ADAP Project

NEMO-ADAP Project

A project investigating Modern human dispersal into Eurasia and its relation to Neanderthal extinction during the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition.


Read more at: PaleoErgo: Exploring Hand-Stone Tool Interactions in Early Hominins

PaleoErgo: Exploring Hand-Stone Tool Interactions in Early Hominins

How did the biomechanics and ergonomics of the human hand influence the use and production of Palaeolithic stone tools? Traditionally, stone tools have been analyzed for their morphological properties and technological characteristics to infer the cognitive and social evolution of early hominins and modern humans. However, the role of musculoskeletal aspects in the effective use of these tools has been largely overlooked, resulting in an incomplete understanding of Palaeolithic technologies.


Read more at: Rescue excavations at Britain’s earliest Acheuean site, Fordwich 2022 - 2023

Rescue excavations at Britain’s earliest Acheuean site, Fordwich 2022 - 2023

Fordwich has been revealed to be the oldest directly-dated Acheulean occurrence in the United Kingdom, with artefacts dating from 560,000 to 620,000 years ago (MIS 15). This makes it the second oldest Acheulean site in north-west Europe, and the oldest to display a known handaxe assemblage numbering into the hundreds. The site is technologically diverse, with flakes, cores, handaxes, scrapers and retouched implements identified. This makes Fordwich a unique archaeological occurrence in northern Europe.