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

更新世期间非洲内部结构化人口的新证据引发了关于解剖学现代人类（AMH）在分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马赛克般的现代解剖学外观表明了一种复杂的演变模式。然而，对区域和人口之间的联系程度仍然知之甚少。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（GM），以确定在早期AMH颅骨多样性和正式的变化在中石器时代（MSA）石器的形状模式。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型确定的拟议相互作用时期相关联。研究结果将表明非洲哪些地区在某些时期可能已经连接起来，从而将阐明整个非洲大陆人口的人口统计历史。研究结果将确定哪些地区对AMH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.