CarNHum Project Neanderthals, Early Anatomically Modern Humans and carnivores. Deciphering their interactions through proteomics, paleogenetics and radiocarbon dating

CarNHum project is designed to investigate the interactions of Neanderthals, early anatomically modern humans and carnivores using innovative and advanced techniques such as proteomics, paleogenetics and radiocarbon dating. Firstly, through the gathering of coprolites and bone fragments bearing carnivore modifications (gnawing marks, digestion) associated with late Neanderthal and early modern human occupations, it will be investigated whether humans were a frequent prey for carnivores. This will thus provide new insights into human-carnivore interactions from a carnivore perspective rather than the human perspective which was investigated during my doctoral research. Secondly, this study will be the first to analyse carnivore coprolites systematically and fully - a rich source of dietary, environmental and health information. μCT imaging techniques, proteomic and microscopic analyses will provide novel insights into these small treasure chests of biological information. Finally, any further human fossil material identified in the assemblages will be radiocarbon dated and genetically analyzed to further our understanding of the population affinities and biological relatedness of AMHs in Northwest Europe during the MUPT. The data generated in this project will go beyond the MUPT of humans, however, and provide novel insights into the carnivores, their diet and the local environment during this time.

Keywords:Hominid-carnivore interactions, Neanderthals, Anatomically modern humans

Disciplines:Etnoarchaeology, Heritage and cultural conservation, Geoarchaeology, Palaeontology, Bioarchaeology