Project description
Investigating Neanderthal extinction
The extinction of Neanderthals, after coexisting briefly with Homo sapiens, remains a mystery in human evolution. Disagreement persists on whether differences in diet and hunting tactics influenced this outcome. In this sense, the role of an animal's sex may also have influenced prey choice, but archaeological methods remain limited in determining this parameter. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme (MSCA), the PALEOHUNTERS project addresses this unresolved debate. Unlike traditional methods that focus on skeletal morphological studies, PALEOHUNTERS pioneers palaeoproteomics to determine ungulate sex. By analysing tooth enamel proteins, the project reevaluates subsistence behaviour in Neanderthals and Homo sapiens of northern Iberia and southwestern France. Integrating biomolecular and zooarchaeological methods promises fresh insights into long-standing archaeological debates on human behaviour.
Objective
The extinction of Neanderthals after a brief period of coexistence with Homo sapiens is a key topic in human evolution and Palaeolithic studies. To date, there is still no consensus on whether differences in diet and hunting strategies between both human populations could have influenced the outcome. Traditionally, archaeologists have addressed this topic by studying faunal skeletal remains, determining species variability, age of prey and seasonality of human occupations. Ethnography shows that, in addition to these aspects, animal sex plays a key role in hunter-gatherers' prey choice procurement decisions, as the biological sex of an animal has major implications on its nutritional value, its presence in the landscape alone or in a group, and its vulnerability. The assessment of this factor has not yet been addressed in Palaeolithic research, but it is essential to understand whether there were strategic differences in hunting behaviour among both human species. PALEOHUNTERS aims to determine the influence of ungulate sex on the hunting strategies of late Neanderthals and the first Anatomically Modern Humans groups of northern Iberia and southwestern France, as both species overlapped in those regions for thousands of years. This interdisciplinary project will implement biological sex determination of ungulates by analysing amelogenin, a protein present in tooth enamel. The resulting ancient protein data will be combined with zooarchaeological and ecological information to re-evaluate Palaeolithic human subsistence behaviour from the perspective of the biological sex of hunted animals. Furthermore, integrating biomolecular methods has the potential to contribute to address long-term debated issues in archaeological research from new perspectives. By achieving these goals, PALEOHUNTERS will put the fellow on an innovative research path where palaeoproteomics becomes an integral part of Pleistocene zooarchaeological investigation.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1165 KOBENHAVN
Denmark
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.