Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BITE (Bite's evolution: a biomechanical study of Pleistocene humans in Europe)
Berichtszeitraum: 2024-01-01 bis 2025-12-31
Diet has played a central role in shaping the evolutionary history of the genus Homo. Changes in food resources, food processing strategies, and behavioural adaptations are closely linked to the progressive transformation of the human cranio-dental system. Understanding how extinct human species used their dentition provides critical insights into evolutionary adaptations, ecological strategies, and behavioural flexibility in past populations. However, despite decades of research in paleoanthropology, the specific functional and dietary factors that drove dental evolution in early human populations remain insufficiently understood. This knowledge gap is largely due to the limited integration of complementary analytical approaches capable of linking dental morphology, wear patterns, and biomechanical performance.
The BITE project addresses this challenge by investigating the relationship between diet, tooth function, and dental evolution in fossil hominin populations. The project focuses particularly on key European fossil assemblages, including the exceptional hominin sample from Atapuerca (Spain), one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world. By analysing dental remains from Homo antecessor, the Sima de los Huesos population, Neanderthals, and modern humans, the project aims to identify the biological and behavioural factors that influenced the evolution of the hominin dentition.
To achieve these goals, BITE applies an interdisciplinary research strategy that combines dental wear analysis, biomechanical modelling, and structural analysis of tooth tissues. The integration of Occlusal Fingerprint Analysis (OFA), Finite Element Analysis (FEA), and enamel thickness assessment allows the project to evaluate how different hominin species processed food and used their dentition in both dietary and non-dietary behaviours. By combining these complementary methodologies, the project seeks to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the functional role of teeth in human evolution and to identify previously unexplored mechanisms underlying dental adaptations.
Beyond advancing fundamental knowledge in human evolutionary studies, the project contributes to strengthening Europe's leadership in paleoanthropological research by promoting international collaboration and methodological innovation. The results are expected to significantly improve our understanding of dietary adaptation and functional morphology in extinct human populations, contributing to broader discussions on human adaptability, ecological resilience, and behavioural evolution. In addition, the project integrates perspectives from anthropology, evolutionary biology, and functional morphology fields within the social sciences and humanities that play a key role in interpreting human biological and cultural evolution.
Overall, the BITE project aims to generate new scientific evidence on the evolutionary relationship between diet, tooth function, and morphology, thereby contributing to the broader understanding of human origins and diversity. Through scientific dissemination, public engagement, and international collaboration, the project also supports the wider objective of promoting European research excellence and increasing societal awareness of human evolutionary heritage.
The BITE project addresses this challenge by investigating the relationship between diet, tooth function, and dental evolution in fossil hominin populations. The project focuses particularly on key European fossil assemblages, including the exceptional hominin sample from Atapuerca (Spain), one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world. By analysing dental remains from Homo antecessor, the Sima de los Huesos population, Neanderthals, and modern humans, the project aims to identify the biological and behavioural factors that influenced the evolution of the hominin dentition.
To achieve these goals, BITE applies an interdisciplinary research strategy that combines dental wear analysis, biomechanical modelling, and structural analysis of tooth tissues. The integration of Occlusal Fingerprint Analysis (OFA), Finite Element Analysis (FEA), and enamel thickness assessment allows the project to evaluate how different hominin species processed food and used their dentition in both dietary and non-dietary behaviours. By combining these complementary methodologies, the project seeks to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the functional role of teeth in human evolution and to identify previously unexplored mechanisms underlying dental adaptations.
Beyond advancing fundamental knowledge in human evolutionary studies, the project contributes to strengthening Europe's leadership in paleoanthropological research by promoting international collaboration and methodological innovation. The results are expected to significantly improve our understanding of dietary adaptation and functional morphology in extinct human populations, contributing to broader discussions on human adaptability, ecological resilience, and behavioural evolution. In addition, the project integrates perspectives from anthropology, evolutionary biology, and functional morphology fields within the social sciences and humanities that play a key role in interpreting human biological and cultural evolution.
Overall, the BITE project aims to generate new scientific evidence on the evolutionary relationship between diet, tooth function, and morphology, thereby contributing to the broader understanding of human origins and diversity. Through scientific dissemination, public engagement, and international collaboration, the project also supports the wider objective of promoting European research excellence and increasing societal awareness of human evolutionary heritage.
During the reporting period, the project has focused on investigating the relationship between hominin dentition, diet, and behaviour in European Pleistocene populations, with particular attention to the Atapuerca assemblages. The research follows an interdisciplinary approach combining dental wear analysis, biomechanical modelling, and comparative fossil analysis in order to better understand how extinct hominins used their teeth and how dietary and cultural factors influenced the evolution of the human cranio-dental system.
The work carried out so far has primarily contributed to the first stages of the project, which involve the characterisation of dental wear patterns and the development of analytical protocols for biomechanical analyses. High-resolution 3D models of fossil teeth have been analysed in order to quantify dental wear and identify patterns related to dietary behaviour. These analyses allow the identification of functional signals preserved in tooth surfaces and contribute to reconstructing feeding behaviours in fossil hominin populations.
In parallel, the project has developed the methodological framework necessary for biomechanical analysis of the dentition. This includes the definition of protocols for modelling and testing mechanical performance of teeth under different loading conditions, which will allow the evaluation of functional adaptations associated with dietary strategies.
The main achievements during the reporting period include the generation and analysis of preliminary datasets on dental wear in the Sima de los Huesos population, the establishment of analytical protocols for biomechanical simulations, and the development of a comparative framework integrating fossil and modern human data. These activities represent important preparatory steps for the full implementation of the project objectives and provide the foundation for the subsequent analytical phases of the project.
Overall, the work performed so far demonstrates that the project is progressing according to plan and is producing the necessary datasets and methodological tools required to address the research objectives.
The work carried out so far has primarily contributed to the first stages of the project, which involve the characterisation of dental wear patterns and the development of analytical protocols for biomechanical analyses. High-resolution 3D models of fossil teeth have been analysed in order to quantify dental wear and identify patterns related to dietary behaviour. These analyses allow the identification of functional signals preserved in tooth surfaces and contribute to reconstructing feeding behaviours in fossil hominin populations.
In parallel, the project has developed the methodological framework necessary for biomechanical analysis of the dentition. This includes the definition of protocols for modelling and testing mechanical performance of teeth under different loading conditions, which will allow the evaluation of functional adaptations associated with dietary strategies.
The main achievements during the reporting period include the generation and analysis of preliminary datasets on dental wear in the Sima de los Huesos population, the establishment of analytical protocols for biomechanical simulations, and the development of a comparative framework integrating fossil and modern human data. These activities represent important preparatory steps for the full implementation of the project objectives and provide the foundation for the subsequent analytical phases of the project.
Overall, the work performed so far demonstrates that the project is progressing according to plan and is producing the necessary datasets and methodological tools required to address the research objectives.
The project aims to significantly advance current knowledge on the relationship between diet, behaviour, and the evolution of the hominin dentition during the European Pleistocene. Existing studies have often relied on isolated lines of evidence, such as dental morphology or microwear, to infer dietary behaviour. In contrast, this project integrates multiple analytical approaches (including quantitative dental wear analysis and biomechanical modelling) within a single research framework.
This integrative approach allows for a more comprehensive understanding of how extinct hominins used their dentition and how dietary and cultural adaptations influenced the evolution of dental structures. By combining high-resolution 3D analysis with functional modelling, the project contributes new methodological approaches that can be applied to other fossil assemblages and research contexts in palaeoanthropology.
The results generated so far provide new insights into the dietary behaviour of the Sima de los Huesos population and contribute to refining interpretations of hominin ecological adaptations in the Middle Pleistocene. The development of standardised analytical protocols also contributes to improving the reproducibility and comparability of dental wear and biomechanical studies across different research groups.
In the longer term, the outcomes of the project are expected to provide a more detailed reconstruction of hominin dietary strategies and their relationship with environmental and cultural factors. This knowledge contributes to broader research questions regarding human evolution, adaptation, and behavioural diversity in prehistoric populations.
Further research will continue to expand the dataset, refine biomechanical simulations, and integrate the different analytical results. These steps will strengthen the scientific robustness of the conclusions and facilitate the dissemination and uptake of the project’s methodologies within the wider palaeoanthropological research community.
This integrative approach allows for a more comprehensive understanding of how extinct hominins used their dentition and how dietary and cultural adaptations influenced the evolution of dental structures. By combining high-resolution 3D analysis with functional modelling, the project contributes new methodological approaches that can be applied to other fossil assemblages and research contexts in palaeoanthropology.
The results generated so far provide new insights into the dietary behaviour of the Sima de los Huesos population and contribute to refining interpretations of hominin ecological adaptations in the Middle Pleistocene. The development of standardised analytical protocols also contributes to improving the reproducibility and comparability of dental wear and biomechanical studies across different research groups.
In the longer term, the outcomes of the project are expected to provide a more detailed reconstruction of hominin dietary strategies and their relationship with environmental and cultural factors. This knowledge contributes to broader research questions regarding human evolution, adaptation, and behavioural diversity in prehistoric populations.
Further research will continue to expand the dataset, refine biomechanical simulations, and integrate the different analytical results. These steps will strengthen the scientific robustness of the conclusions and facilitate the dissemination and uptake of the project’s methodologies within the wider palaeoanthropological research community.