»How new science and fossil disoveries are reshaping our understanding of late human evolution«

Thomas Higham | Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna

The last decade has witnessed revolutionary changes in our understanding of late human evolution. It is clear now that 50,000 years ago there were multiple types of humans living on Earth, yet now there is just us, Homo sapiens. The question of what happened to Neanderthals, Denisovans, and the several other human groups now documented in the archaeological record is still a puzzle, but recent fossil discoveries and the application of new cutting-edge science has illuminated the picture considerably. In this lecture T. Higham will talk about the latest data, both from the field and the laboratory, and explore some of the major themes explaining the pattern of this key period of prehistory. The lecture will focus in particular on the question of the disappearance of the Neanderthals and Denisovans, their adaptation, distribution, genetics, and final interaction with humans.