For several years, Homo sapiens, H. neanderthalensis, H. erectus, H. floresiensis, and Denisovans shared the planet. At one point, H. sapiens began to express a complex behavior, and the path in which it developed is now being traced using the innovative techniques of modern archaeology, molecular biology, paleoanthropology, and paleontology. Among all the extinct human species, Neandertals have received a very high interest because they inhabited Eurasia during more than 250,000 years and shared the continent with anatomically modern humans for several thousand years. They also produced complex technological tools, explored a wide variety of food, and developed behavioral complexity. Questions regarding whether the adaptive processes involved were gradual or punctual, or how the cultural evolution interrelates with the biological evolution (if any), and if specific cognitive behavior was a major factor for us to remain the solely human species on Earth, are in hot debate.
One of the proxies used for the study of fossil human behavior consists of the study of dental wear. As teeth are the most resilient elements of the skeleton they record a lifetime of interactions between individuals and their environments (dietary reconstructions) and, for humans, they also record biocultural behaviors associated with the use of teeth as tools or as a “third hand”. This project will implement the use of recently developed virtual methods for the analysis of both micro- and macro- dental wear patterns in both Neandertals and anatomically modern humans.
The project is called 3DFOSSILDIET (Tracing the Ontogenetic Evolution of Diet and Behavior in Neandertals and Anatomically Modern Humans in the Franco-Cantabrian Region. An Integrative study of 3D Tooth Wear Patterns).
Since this project is a MSCA-IF Global Fellowship, the first two years (outgoing phase) were developed at the Ungar Lab at the University of Arkansas (in Fayetteville, AR, USA; with Prof. Peter S. Ungar). The last year will be hosted at the EvoAdapta Group at the University of Cantabria (Spain; with Dr. Ana B. Marín-Arroyo).
The main aim is to compare the growth and development of both human species through their dietary differences and behavioral complexity. Insights will provide clues about social dynamics and our evolutionary processes as a species.
Dental Microwear Texture Analysis (DMTA) protocol is being used to understand short-term dietary reconstruction and highlight possible individual deviations from the general pattern. A new approach to dental topographic analysis for macrowear study is being developed and it will be used as a proxy to infer biomechanics of the mastication (diet) and general use of the mouth (behavior) along the Life History of both human species.
The Franco-Cantabrian region has been selected because it contains a continuous record of human occupation from the Middle to recent times with accurately dated sites and well-preserved human remains. Research in the region has focused mostly on the chronological sequence, material culture and subsistence strategies during the replacement of local Neandertals by AMH providing the perfect scenario for contextualization of patterns of behavioral variation to be considered in the project.
This project is important for the society because it helps to understand how these human species behaviorally adapted survived during hard climatic times, and if our social capacities could have played an important role on our success as remaining the sole human species today. The methodology is completely non-destructive and that will allow the conservation of the fossil materials for generations to come.
