2024-04-25 Integrating biomolecular techniques to explore the migration & artefacts... (E.I. Zavala)

ARF's 2024 Special Spring Lecture

Integrating biomolecular techniques to explore the migration and artefacts of Upper Paleolithic humans in Europe (Elena I. Zavala)

Speaker: Dr. Elena I. Zavala, Miller Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley

Abstract: The Upper Paleolithic is linked with the spread of Homo sapiens throughout Europe, disappearance of Neanderthals, appearance of new technocomplexes, and climatic changes. Unraveling the association of humans with different artefacts and their environments during this time period have been key areas of interest for understanding human evolutionary history. This talk will discuss how interdisciplinary research has been leveraged to provide new insights by highlighting three different studies. The first provides the earliest evidence of Homo sapiens in central Europe at ~45,000 years ago and demonstrates early adaptability to cold temperatures. Then we will move forward to ~30,000 years ago to discuss the spread of burial practices as exemplified by an infant burial in Poland. These first two studies rely on the association of human remains with artefacts and other mammalian remains. The final study highlights how a non-destructive technique can be used to recover human DNA from a pendant, allowing us to learn about the individual who touched this pendant over 20,000 years ago. These studies will be placed in context with increased knowledge of human migration during these time periods and discuss questions that remain unanswered.