Periodic Reporting for period 1 - 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)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2021-02-01 al 2023-01-31
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 methods and techniques of modern archaeology, molecular biology and ancient DNA studies, paleoanthropology, and paleontology. Among all the extinct human species, Neandertals have received a very high interest because they inhabited the western part of 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 fossil 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; supervised by Prof. Peter S. Ungar). The last year will be hosted at the EvoAdapta Group at the University of Cantabria in Santander (Spain; supervised by 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 via studies of dental wear. 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 for several reasons: it contains a continuous record of human occupation spanning the Middle and Upper Paleolithic, with accurately dated sites and well-preserved human remains. To date, 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 proposed 3DFOSSILDIET project.
This project is important for the society because it will provide evidence and clues of our own evolutionary past, as well as for other human species, in this case the Neandertals. It will help 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. In addition, the techniques being developed and implemented are completely non-destructive, and that will allow the conservation of the fossil materials for generations to come. The methodology employed in this project could be also used to study the dentition of other fossil taxa, not just human fossils.
The principal questions being addressed here are:
1) How did adult individuals care for sub-adults?
2) How did sub-adults become independent individuals?
3) How were relationships expressed within the groups?
4) Could social patterns reflect our evolutionary success?
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 fossil 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; supervised by Prof. Peter S. Ungar). The last year will be hosted at the EvoAdapta Group at the University of Cantabria in Santander (Spain; supervised by 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 via studies of dental wear. 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 for several reasons: it contains a continuous record of human occupation spanning the Middle and Upper Paleolithic, with accurately dated sites and well-preserved human remains. To date, 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 proposed 3DFOSSILDIET project.
This project is important for the society because it will provide evidence and clues of our own evolutionary past, as well as for other human species, in this case the Neandertals. It will help 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. In addition, the techniques being developed and implemented are completely non-destructive, and that will allow the conservation of the fossil materials for generations to come. The methodology employed in this project could be also used to study the dentition of other fossil taxa, not just human fossils.
The principal questions being addressed here are:
1) How did adult individuals care for sub-adults?
2) How did sub-adults become independent individuals?
3) How were relationships expressed within the groups?
4) Could social patterns reflect our evolutionary success?
The project is still undergoing, so the results are expected to increase in the following months. The preliminary results add new evidence to the importance of the use of the mouth in paramasticatory activities or as a third hand throughout the Pleistocene, including sub-adult individuals.
For now, the results show that dental microwear texture analysis successfully differentiated the children from groups studied (Neandertals, prehistoric modern humans, historic Egyptians, and historic high-Artic Inuit) by all texture variables examined. Interestingly, the Neandertal and Point Hope children had similar mean values across all the texture variables, and both groups were significantly different from the others, suggesting that these diversity in abrasive load exposure could be related to their participation in non-dietary anterior tooth-use behaviors, as the adult individuals of their groups. Also, the use of ‘teeth as tools’ (non-masticatory or cultural-related dental wear) study on the deciduous dentition of eight Neanderthal and anatomically modern human individuals supports the participation of young individuals in group activities. These dental wear patterns indicate the children were potential contributors to group welfare.
For now, the results show that dental microwear texture analysis successfully differentiated the children from groups studied (Neandertals, prehistoric modern humans, historic Egyptians, and historic high-Artic Inuit) by all texture variables examined. Interestingly, the Neandertal and Point Hope children had similar mean values across all the texture variables, and both groups were significantly different from the others, suggesting that these diversity in abrasive load exposure could be related to their participation in non-dietary anterior tooth-use behaviors, as the adult individuals of their groups. Also, the use of ‘teeth as tools’ (non-masticatory or cultural-related dental wear) study on the deciduous dentition of eight Neanderthal and anatomically modern human individuals supports the participation of young individuals in group activities. These dental wear patterns indicate the children were potential contributors to group welfare.
Results from the project have been presented at 6 different international conferences including the United Stated of America, Germany, and Spain, and 4 invited seminars were delivered at universities in the USA and Spain. Two scientific papers have been published (open access) in the Journal of Human Evolution and Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Section Paleoecology.
The project has developed collaborations with researchers from different universities from the USA and Spain: Loyola University of Chicago, University of Atlanta, University of Kansas, Universidad de La Rioja, and University of Colorado.
The project has regularly organized and participated in public outreach events to engage children and adults in themes related to the research including collaboration with the National Museum and Research Center of Altamira and Ateneo de Santander. The project has also participated at the NAFSA 2022 (Association of International Educators).
Further dissemination of project progress via twitter (#3DFOSSILDIET) was undertaken, and on the EvoAdapta Facebook page.
The project has developed collaborations with researchers from different universities from the USA and Spain: Loyola University of Chicago, University of Atlanta, University of Kansas, Universidad de La Rioja, and University of Colorado.
The project has regularly organized and participated in public outreach events to engage children and adults in themes related to the research including collaboration with the National Museum and Research Center of Altamira and Ateneo de Santander. The project has also participated at the NAFSA 2022 (Association of International Educators).
Further dissemination of project progress via twitter (#3DFOSSILDIET) was undertaken, and on the EvoAdapta Facebook page.