Project description
Filling knowledge gaps in human evolution
Where did modern humans come from, and how did they spread across the world? To answer this question, the ERC-funded RIFT-to-RIM project will study two underexplored regions: sub-Saharan Africa and Sahul (Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Tasmania). These areas mark the beginning and end of Homo sapiens’ migration out of Africa, yet fossil and genetic evidence remains scarce. Building on prior research in Asia, the project uses cutting-edge techniques, such as non-destructive bone scanning, palaeoproteomics, and ancient DNA analysis, to examine remains from 21 archaeological sites. By identifying and dating elusive early human fossils, RIFT-to-RIM aims to reveal how interbreeding, adaptation, and migration shaped the genetic tapestry of modern humans.
Objective
Modern humans (Homo sapiens) evolved in Africa, dispersed into Eurasia, and reached the vast landmass of Sahul (present-day Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Tasmania) by ~60,000 years ago. During this remarkable expansion, interbreeding between H. sapiens and other hominin taxa shaped and redefined our species’ genetic profile. Yet, the scarcity of fossils and ancient molecular data from Africa and Sahul, the starting and ending points of this journey, leave unanswered questions regarding the origins, age, and genetic imprints of the groups venturing from the African homeland, and of those reaching Sahul.
RIFT-to-RIM is an ambitious project that builds on the foundation of the PI’s previous ERC work (FINDER) in Asia, and aims to rectify the dearth of fossils and genetic evidence from two under-researched regions of the world, sub-Saharan Africa and Sahul.
Through a novel and systematic combination of cutting-edge biomolecular methodologies, a carefully designed workflow targets 21 African and Papuan sites dating to between 200,000-10,000 years ago. To minimise the impact of collagen and DNA degradation the project relies heavily on high-elevation sites, coupled with analytical developments for poorly preserved samples.
Thousands morphologically non-diagnostic bones (~180,000) will be assessed non-destructively using Near-infrared spectroscopy, and a fraction of them (~20,000) will be determined taxonomically using palaeoproteomics, primarily ZooMS. Newly identified hominin bones will undergo ancient DNA, dating and isotopic analyses. Sediments from new and previously-excavated sites will be screened for modern human DNA evidence.
The RIFT-to-RIM workflow maximizes our chances of identifying, dating, and genetically characterizing early H. sapiens in regions where such data are exceptionally rare. Ultimately the project will generate a wealth of new evidence from key regions of the world and will help decod the intricate mosaic that defines modern humans today.
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 biological sciences genetics DNA
- social sciences sociology anthropology physical anthropology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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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)
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Topic(s)
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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.
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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
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-COG
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1010 WIEN
Austria
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