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

在更新世期间，非洲境内有结构人群的新证据引发了关于解剖学上的现代人（AMH）在扩散到非洲大陆之外之前的泛非起源的讨论。在这一时期，区域性的石器风格和解剖学现代性的马赛克样外观表明了一种复杂的进化模式。然而，区域和人口之间的连通性水平仍然知之甚少。为了研究刺激这种生物和文化多样性的过程，我将创建一个时空模型来模拟非洲内部的迁移模式。该模型将使用新的古气候数据建立，并使用考古和化石数据进行测试。具体来说，我将使用3D几何形态测量学（GM）来识别早期AMH颅骨多样性的形状模式和中石器时代（MSA）岩石的形式变化。来自不同地点和时期的数据集之间的相似性将与通过气候模式确定的拟议相互作用时期相关联。研究结果将表明非洲的哪些地区可能在某些时期相互联系，从而将阐明整个非洲大陆人口的人口历史。研究结果将确定哪些区域对抗微生物菌群多样性的演变贡献更大，这是目前最重要的问题。

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.