Objective
Over the last two decades, growing evidence attests to the use of unmodified or partially modified bone fragments as tools by members of our lineage prior to the emergence of fully shaped, standardized bone tools. These simple tools, some of which date to 2.4 million years ago (Myr), were interpreted as items used for digging, piercing, cutting, or scraping but definitive conclusions are difficult to reach without comprehensive evidence owing to the lack of adequate research strategies for investigating them. Indeed, we critically need quantitative replicable methods to infer their role in past cultural systems, which, in turn, would allow us to document their evolution in relation to other aspects of Pleistocene material culture. ExOsTech aims to tackle this challenging task through the development and application of an innovative approach that integrates tribology with artificial intelligence to study use-wear patterns present on expedient osseous tools. This methodological breakthrough relies on discriminant analysis of surface textural data (ISO 25178) acquired by confocal microscopy as well as image recognitions and multi-class neural network algorithms to precisely establish the function of expedient osseous tools. This method will be applied to study assemblages from Europe, Southern Africa, and East Asia dated between 1.8 Ma and 60 thousand years ago (ka). Cross-cultural comparisons of regional trajectories will be performed to establish when expedient osseous tools became fully integrated in past cultural systems and when standardized behaviours guiding their selection and use emerged in our lineage. Ultimately, ExOsTech will offer a new perspective on Pleistocene cultural dynamics that can not otherwise be inferred solely from stone technology.
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.
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering tribology
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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.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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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) ERC-2024-STG
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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.
33000 BORDEAUX
France
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.