Project description
Neanderthals adapt to Survive the harsh ice age
The survival strategies of Neanderthals were tested during the severe glacial period MIS4 (71,000–57,000 years ago). Even though we know about their behaviour before and after this time, MIS4 remains a mystery. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the NEANSCAPES project explores how Neanderthals in Iberia adapted to rapid climate shifts. By analysing stable isotopes in animal bones from sites across north-eastern Iberia, researchers will reconstruct ancient environments and hunting habits. Using advanced isoscape modelling, the project will reveal whether Neanderthals adjusted their behaviour to survive or if they struggled to cope with the cold. This approach promises new insights into human resilience.
Objective
The NEANSCAPES project aims to advance our understanding of Neanderthal subsistence strategies during MIS4 (71-57 ka), a glacial period that imposed harsh conditions that impacted on environment on a worldwide scale. The transition from the temperate phase of MIS5 (128-71 ka) to the cold phase of MIS4 required flexibility and innovation in livelihood strategies and resource management by these populations. Much is known about MIS5 and MIS3 (57-27 ka), but there is a notable gap in human subsistence during MIS4. This project will assess the impact of MIS4 on the resilience of Neanderthals in Iberia for understanding their ability to cope with severe climatic cycles. It will test whether this species behaviour was maintained invariably, making them vulnerable to abrupt climatic changes, or conversely, they were able to change their behaviour when the environmental changed drastically. To this end, the project will examine the ungulates hunted from archaeological sites in north-eastern Iberia, where repeated and intense Neanderthal occupations span the entire MIS4 glacial period, from the Pyrenees to the coast. Stable isotopes (oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, sulphur, strontium) preserved in the animal tissues recovered on sites provide detailed information on the animals' past ecology. By combining multi-isotope analysis with isoscapes modelling (oxygen, sulphur, strontium) on the region, we will provide a high-resolution climate and spatial reconstruction directly linked to human presence, to characterized past human habitat. Using isoscape modelling, NEANSCAPES will maximise the resolution provided by stable isotopes to characterise the micro-environments frequented by humans and to understand landscape use resulting from human population choices. This cross-cutting methodology has never been applied to Palaeolithic research in Iberia and will provide a good opportunity to test its suitability on a regional scale and to generate new analytical tools.
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 human-validated.
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 human-validated.
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-2024-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.
PR1 2HE PRESTON
United Kingdom
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.