It is with great pleasure to announce that the Palaeodiet Research Lab, in collaboration with Prof. Stefano Benazzi from the University of Bologna (Italy) and Dr. Rachel Sarig from Tel Aviv University (Israel), have been successful to the recent ARC Discovery Project 2019 round ($245,600) with a project titled:
A real-time biomechanical study of Neanderthal anterior dentition
This project aims to advance understanding of the evolution of human dentition using an innovative approach that integrates sophisticated 3D digital modelling with engineering tools. Neanderthals are our closest extinct human relatives that inhabited Eurasia from about 230,000 to 28,000 years ago. However, their protruding faces, large noses and big anterior teeth, raise questions about why these people look so different from us. This project aims to fill this gap in human knowledge about our evolutionary history, and to enhance the international visibility of Australian research in palaeoanthropology and dental biomechanics.
Human evolution is one of the most vibrant scientific fields and an inspiring area of knowledge. This study will help us to reconstruct our enigmatic past, providing essential data to understand the evolution of human dentition. The project represents a unique opportunity for engaging with the public and reinvigorating its interest in science. It will establish and maintain a strong international network that will contribute to developing novel approaches and tools leading to high impact outputs, training and educating a new generation of scientists and thus, raising the profile of Australian science worldwide.
