Abstract
During the Pleistocene, Poland served as a vital connection between Central Europe and the Eastern European Plains, facilitating the migration of animal species from the Arctic and Central Asia. However, this corridor of dispersal remains overlooked in terms of human movements, especially concerning the debate over the arrival of Homo sapiens in Europe. Recent studies suggest that Homo sapiens evolved in Africa during the Middle Pleistocene and around 100 ka Before Present (BP) expanded to South-East Asia and East Asia. The earliest evidence in Europe is dated at approximately 48 ka BP in Moravia, followed by a broader migration between 44 and 42 ka BP. Concurrently with these migrations, new cultural behaviors emerged in Europe, culminating in the extinction of Neanderthals, the local population, around ~41 to 39 ka BP. The reasons for the Neanderthals' demise remain unknown, as does the origin of the technological change known as the “transitional industries” (48 - 41 ka BP). It's uncertain whether these lithic assemblages stemmed from Neanderthal innovations or cultural exchanges with Homo sapiens. Paleogenetic studies have identified multiple instances of interbreeding between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens in Europe after 48 ka BP. Yet, archaeological evidence of these cultural mixtures remains absent. The prevailing debate about the cultural interaction between these two species has mainly focused on Western Europe, leaving out Poland although is the only region in Eurasia where three transitional industries (Szeletian, Jerzmanowician, Zwierzyniecian) appear in a chronological sequence. This unparalleled cultural and behavioral diversity might stem from several waves of Homo sapiens' migrations reaching Poland, potentially via different pathways such as Central Asia. Therefore, Poland holds a crucial position in unraveling the mystery of contact and interaction between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. The POOL project presents an innovative approach, combining state-of-the-art techniques in lithic analysis, biomolecular studies, and geochronology to determine the timing of Homo sapiens' arrival in the region, clarify the processes that shaped the transitional industries, and investigate the causes of Neanderthals' extinction.
Dettagli del progetto
Responsabile scientifico: Andrea Picin
Strutture Unibo coinvolte:
Dipartimento di Chimica "Giacomo Ciamician"
Coordinatore:
ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - Università di Bologna(Italy)
Contributo totale di progetto: Euro (EUR) 1.653.053,19
Durata del progetto in mesi: 36
Data di inizio
10/03/2025
Data di fine:
10/03/2028
