Neanderthals and Modern Humans: The story of two sister species

Prof. Harvati will present a broad overview of current knowledge, including advances from her own team’s work in South East Europe and in the lab, to help put together the story of the later stages of human evolution.
 

The evolution and paleobiology of Neanderthals, their possible interactions with modern humans, as well as the reasons behind the Neanderthal extinction, have long fascinated paleoanthropologists and the public alike. Recent breakthroughs in the study of the fossil record, including virtual anthropology methods, ancient DNA, paleoproteomics and new discoveries from the field have revolutionized our understanding of the two sister species and have shed unprecedented light on Neanderthal way of life, the timing of dispersal of modern humans into Eurasia, and the potential for biological and cultural exchange among the two. 

Registration is required, closing date 22.11.2023

Prof. Harvati is Professor for Paleoanthropology at the Institute for Archaeological Sciences and director of the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Paleoenvironment (SHEP) at the University of Tübingen. She is President of the European Society for the Study of Human Evolution (ESHE), and editor-in-chief of the diamond open access journal PaleoAnthropology. 

Her research focuses on Neanderthal paleobiology, modern human origins and dispersals, and the application of virtual anthropology methods to paleoanthropology. Her broader research interests include primate evolution and life history; the relationship between the phenotype, genotype, behavior and the environment; settlement of the Americas; and the paleoanthropology of South-East Europe. She conducts long term fieldwork in Greece.