Reconstructing the distribution of Neanderthal and Modern Humans in time and space in relation to past climate change

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Replacement of Neanderthals by Homo sapiens: testing evolutionary models of learning
• Project/Area Number: 22101005
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Humanities and Social Sciences
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: YONEDA Minoru 東京大学, 総合研究博物館, 教授 (30280712)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): ABE Ayako (OUCHI Ayako) 東京大学, 大気海洋研究所, 准教授 (30272537) ; OGUCHI Takashi 東京大学, 空間情報科学研究センター, 教授 (80221852) ; MORI Hirohisa 国際日本文化研究センター, 文化資料研究企画室, 准教授 (10282625) ; MARUKAWA Yuzo 国際日本文化研究センター, 文化資料研究企画室, 准教授 (10390600) ; KAWAHATA Hodaka 東京大学, 大気海洋研究所, 教授 (20356851) ; YOKOYAMA Yusuke 東京大学, 大気海洋研究所, 准教授 (10359648) ; KONDO Yasuhisa 総合地球環境学研究所, 研究高度化支援センター, 准教授 (90599226)
• Project Period (FY): 2010-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 人類進化 / 年代学 / 気候変動 / 地球化学 / 地球物理 / GIS / 生態ニッチモデル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research project B02, we compare between the climate and the distribution of Neanderthal and Modern Humans, in order to evaluate the climatic impact on the replacement of humans. We archive published data on geochronological data and improve their accuracy and precision in comparison with new measurement technique (AMS) and pre-treatments (e.g. ultrafiltration and wet oxidation). According to improved data sets, we estimate the termination of Neanderthal in Europa at ca. 42 ka, which was substantially earlier than the first dispersal of Modern Human to Europe around 47 ka. It is reasonable that Modern Humans who have higher ability in individual learning can recover more preferable area during the period with short and drastic climate change cycles.

Free Research Field

年代学・先史人類学