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Why the geosciences are becoming increasingly vital to the interpretation of the human evolutionary record
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Why the geosciences are becoming increasingly vital to the interpretation of the human evolutionary record

Mike W Morley, Ian Moffat, Anna M Kotarba-Morley, Vito C Hernandez, Andrea Zerboni, Andy I. R Herries, Renaud Joannes-Boyau and Kira Westaway
Nature ecology & evolution, Vol.7, pp.1971-1977
12/2023
PMID: 38036632

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Abstract

Archaeology Biological evolution Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA Evolution Fossils Sedimentary environments Teeth
Advanced geoscience techniques are essential to contextualize fossils, artefacts and other archaeologically important material accurately and effectively. Their appropriate use will increase confidence in new interpretations of the fossil and archaeological record, providing important information about the life and depositional history of these materials and so should form an integral component of all human evolutionary studies. Many of the most remarkable recent finds that have transformed the field of human evolution are small and scarce, ranging in size from teeth to strands of DNA, recovered from complex sedimentary environments. Nevertheless, if properly analysed, they hold immense potential to rewrite what we know about the evolution of our species and our closest hominin ancestors.The authors review methodological developments arising from the geosciences that are becoming increasingly key to interpreting the human evolutionary record.

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