Modelling the interaction between structured populations in Pleistocene Africa: A synthesis of climatic, fossil and archaeological data

模拟更新世非洲结构化人口之间的相互作用：气候、化石和考古数据的综合

基本信息

批准号：
2266146
负责人：
金额：
--
依托单位：
University of Liverpool
依托单位国家：
英国
项目类别：
Studentship
财政年份：
2019
资助国家：
英国
起止时间：
2019 至无数据
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2266146
关键词：
Modelling interaction between structured populations

项目摘要

Emerging evidence of structured populations within Africa during the Pleistocene has led to discussions about a Pan-African origin of anatomically modern humans (AMH) prior to dispersal beyond the continent. Regional lithic styles and a mosaic-like appearance of anatomical modernity during this period indicate a complex pattern of evolution. However, levels of connectedness between regions and populations remain poorly understood. To investigate the processes that stimulated this biological and cultural diversity, I will create a spatio-temporal model to simulate migration patterns within Africa. This model will be built using new palaeoclimatic data and tested using both archaeological and fossil data. Specifically, I will use 3D geometric morphometrics (GM) to identify shape patterns in early AMH cranial diversity and formal variation in Middle Stone Age (MSA) lithics. Similarities between datasets from different localities and periods will be correlated with proposed interaction periods identified via the climatic model. The results will indicate which regions of Africa were likely to have been connected during certain periods, and thus will illuminate the demographic history of populations throughout the continent. The findings will establish which regions contributed more heavily to the evolution of AMH diversity, an issue which is currently of paramount importance.

在更新世期间，非洲境内结构化人群的新兴证据导致讨论了在欧洲大陆以外的分散之前解剖学现代人类（AMH）的泛非起源。在此期间，区域岩性样式和解剖现代性的镶嵌状外观表明了复杂的进化模式。但是，区域和人口之间的联系水平仍然很少理解。为了研究激发这种生物学和文化多样性的过程，我将创建一个时空模型来模拟非洲境内的迁移模式。该模型将使用新的古气候数据构建，并同时使用考古和化石数据进行测试。具体而言，我将使用3D几何形态计量学（GM）来识别AMH早期颅中多样性的形状模式和中石器时代（MSA）岩性的形式变化。来自不同地方和周期的数据集之间的相似性将与通过气候模型确定的建议交互期间相关。结果将表明在一定时期内可能已经连接了哪些非洲地区，因此将阐明整个非洲大陆人口的人口历史。这些发现将确定哪些地区对AMH多样性的演变有更大的贡献，这一问题目前至关重要。