Decoding the geochemical record of early human fossils

该项目旨在利用最先进的牙齿化石地球化学成像技术，重建南非早期人类物种的幼年记录。这项研究处于人类进化的前沿，将改变我们对人类适应生态位的理解。该项目将揭示早期人类的适应策略，使我们的属在气候变化时期胜过其他人类物种。研究结果将开创新的分析方法，提取幼儿地球化学档案，如母乳喂养行为、饮食、季节性和每个物种的生理适应，从而获得关于我们祖先环境条件的新视角。

This project aims to reconstruct the infanthood records of early hominin species in South Africa, using cutting-edge geochemical imaging of fossil teeth. The research is at the forefront of human evolution and will transform our understanding of hominin adaptations to their ecological niches. The project will shine light on adaptive strategies of early Homo which allowed our genus to outcompete other hominin species at a time of climate variability. The results will pioneer new analytical approaches to extract early-childhood geochemical archives such as breastfeeding behaviour, diet, seasonality and physiological adaptations of each species and thereby gain novel perspectives on the environmental conditions of our ancestors.