Lecture
Talk by Matthias Meyer from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
- Date
- Monday 20 January 2025
- Time
- Address
- Van Steenis Building
- Room
- F1.04
On Monday 20 January Matthias Meyer from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology will give a talk titled "Who was here and when? Who produced these tools? An optimistic outlook on the integration of paleogenetic analyses with archaeological excavation." The talk will take place at 15:30 in the Van Steenis Building room F1.04.
Abstract
"The retrieval of complete and partial genome sequences from the skeletal remains of Neandertals, Denisovans, and modern humans has significantly advanced our understanding of these groups, including their history, relatedness, and interactions. However, many archaeological questions about the deeper past remain unresolved, as skeletal remains are often rare or entirely absent in archaeological assemblages of interest. Who lived at a site, and when? Who created specific types of tools? Thanks to recent advances in recovering human DNA from sediments and artefacts, we are now on the cusp of making DNA analysis a routine tool for answering such questions and integrating it into standard archaeological practice."
Matthias will be visiting the Faculty of Archaeology on Monday and Tuesday morning, and would like to discuss possibilities for future collaborations with members of staff. If you'd like to meet with him during his visit, please contact Marie Soressi.