Project description
Exploring human cultural diversity in the late Pleistocene
In the late Pleistocene (about 126 000 to 11 700 years ago) Homo sapiens populations in southern Africa developed varied technologies to craft stone tools. Similarities and differences in stone tool production across space and time might reflect cultural coalescence and fragmentation events. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme, RStone aims to investigate population dynamics between 59 000 and 28 000 years ago and understand how stone tools can inform us about changing demographic patterns. To achieve this, RStone will develop a standardised method for quantitatively analysing stone tools and examine seven archaeological sites from different regions of southern Africa. By prioritising open science, RStone will provide tools and datasets to foster collaborative projects while training young researchers in stone tool analysis.
Objective
Our species emerged from gene flow between structured populations across various regions of Africa. This process entailed intermitted events of coalescence and fragmentation, visible in late Pleistocene archaeological records through changing patterns of lithic technological similarity. In this framework, the MIS3 (59–28 ka) is a particularly intriguing period because archaeologists working in southern Africa have hypothesized that the marked regional variance in lithic technology is ascribable to cultural fragmentation and reduced information exchange among dispersed populations. However, it may also stem from the lack of a replicable system for recording and statistically analyzing lithic traits. The RStone project seeks to address this research challenge by pursuing three primary objectives. Firstly, it will develop a standardized method for recording lithic traits through comprehensive replicability experiments. Secondly, it will utilize this established recording system to collect novel lithic data from seven well-dated MIS3 stratigraphic sequences across Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, and South Africa. Finally, it will conduct a quantitative inter-site comparison to explore techno-typological similarities and differences and determine whether the observed variance follows a pattern of isolation by distance or if other factors, such as geological constraints, played a role in shaping the way in which human foragers produced stone tools. This research will yield valuable open-source tools implemented in the R programming language and high-resolution datasets. In line with open science practices, RStone will prioritize the transfer and sharing of these resources, with a particular focus on engaging young African researchers. The extensive collaboration network will ensure a robust dissemination of results while positioning the fellow as a key figure in exploring the intricate interplay between human cultural diversity and population dynamics during the Pleistocene.
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.
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.
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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-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global 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.
8005 139 FARO
Portugal
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.