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.
