Palaeotrails
@palaeotrails.bsky.social
Palaeoanthropology research group led by @martamlahr.bsky.social combining multiple projects that investigate human evolution, largely focused in the Turkana Basin.
Administered by the Ng'ipalajem team
Administered by the Ng'ipalajem team
Thrilled to share that our lovely PI, @martamlahr.bsky.social is now officially Professor Marta Mirazón Lahr FBA. Formally admitted at a ceremony at the British Academy yesterday!
Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition and remarkable milestone — here’s to many more!! 🎉
Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition and remarkable milestone — here’s to many more!! 🎉
October 14, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Thrilled to share that our lovely PI, @martamlahr.bsky.social is now officially Professor Marta Mirazón Lahr FBA. Formally admitted at a ceremony at the British Academy yesterday!
Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition and remarkable milestone — here’s to many more!! 🎉
Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition and remarkable milestone — here’s to many more!! 🎉
Session 9 Podium #ESHE2025
@stephanepeyregne.bsky.social on a new Denisovan genome,
J. Kubat uncovers sexing and phylogeny of M. palaeojavanicus,
E. Veatch reconsiders fire use and behaviour in H. floresiensis,
H. Berghuis on the first subsea H. erectus site in Sundaland
@stephanepeyregne.bsky.social on a new Denisovan genome,
J. Kubat uncovers sexing and phylogeny of M. palaeojavanicus,
E. Veatch reconsiders fire use and behaviour in H. floresiensis,
H. Berghuis on the first subsea H. erectus site in Sundaland
September 27, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Session 9 Podium #ESHE2025
@stephanepeyregne.bsky.social on a new Denisovan genome,
J. Kubat uncovers sexing and phylogeny of M. palaeojavanicus,
E. Veatch reconsiders fire use and behaviour in H. floresiensis,
H. Berghuis on the first subsea H. erectus site in Sundaland
@stephanepeyregne.bsky.social on a new Denisovan genome,
J. Kubat uncovers sexing and phylogeny of M. palaeojavanicus,
E. Veatch reconsiders fire use and behaviour in H. floresiensis,
H. Berghuis on the first subsea H. erectus site in Sundaland
Podium Day 3 #ESHE2025
H. Farrell, R. Sorrentino, C. Ruff, A. Toccacceli, R. Clarke, A. Robles on the architecture of human foot, gait in Dmanisi, dexterous rock climbing in chimps, craniofacial diversity in great apes and so much more!
H. Farrell, R. Sorrentino, C. Ruff, A. Toccacceli, R. Clarke, A. Robles on the architecture of human foot, gait in Dmanisi, dexterous rock climbing in chimps, craniofacial diversity in great apes and so much more!
September 27, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Podium Day 3 #ESHE2025
H. Farrell, R. Sorrentino, C. Ruff, A. Toccacceli, R. Clarke, A. Robles on the architecture of human foot, gait in Dmanisi, dexterous rock climbing in chimps, craniofacial diversity in great apes and so much more!
H. Farrell, R. Sorrentino, C. Ruff, A. Toccacceli, R. Clarke, A. Robles on the architecture of human foot, gait in Dmanisi, dexterous rock climbing in chimps, craniofacial diversity in great apes and so much more!
Poster Session 2 #ESHE2025
83 wonderful posters. 169 in total.
Palaeotrails’ Jesse Martin & @martamlahr.bsky.social on detecting microevolutionary trends in fossil hominin populations.
83 wonderful posters. 169 in total.
Palaeotrails’ Jesse Martin & @martamlahr.bsky.social on detecting microevolutionary trends in fossil hominin populations.
September 26, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Poster Session 2 #ESHE2025
83 wonderful posters. 169 in total.
Palaeotrails’ Jesse Martin & @martamlahr.bsky.social on detecting microevolutionary trends in fossil hominin populations.
83 wonderful posters. 169 in total.
Palaeotrails’ Jesse Martin & @martamlahr.bsky.social on detecting microevolutionary trends in fossil hominin populations.
Podium talks Day 2 #ESHE2025
@jingzhang.bsky.social, K. Bretzke, G. Duller, @armandofalcucci.bsky.social, @giuliagallo.bsky.social, @jonathanreeves.bsky.social present exciting research on AI refits for lithics, use of operculum to push the limits of OSL, fire durations in the MP and so much more!
@jingzhang.bsky.social, K. Bretzke, G. Duller, @armandofalcucci.bsky.social, @giuliagallo.bsky.social, @jonathanreeves.bsky.social present exciting research on AI refits for lithics, use of operculum to push the limits of OSL, fire durations in the MP and so much more!
September 26, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Podium talks Day 2 #ESHE2025
@jingzhang.bsky.social, K. Bretzke, G. Duller, @armandofalcucci.bsky.social, @giuliagallo.bsky.social, @jonathanreeves.bsky.social present exciting research on AI refits for lithics, use of operculum to push the limits of OSL, fire durations in the MP and so much more!
@jingzhang.bsky.social, K. Bretzke, G. Duller, @armandofalcucci.bsky.social, @giuliagallo.bsky.social, @jonathanreeves.bsky.social present exciting research on AI refits for lithics, use of operculum to push the limits of OSL, fire durations in the MP and so much more!
First round of podium presentations at #ESHE2025
Olivia Rivero, Alba Mesa, April Nowell,
@aurelienmounier.bsky.social, Chris Hunt explore everything from cognitive complexity, aDNA in cave art to the lives of teens in the #Palaeolithic and the amazing discoveries at #Shanidar!
Stay tuned!
Olivia Rivero, Alba Mesa, April Nowell,
@aurelienmounier.bsky.social, Chris Hunt explore everything from cognitive complexity, aDNA in cave art to the lives of teens in the #Palaeolithic and the amazing discoveries at #Shanidar!
Stay tuned!
September 25, 2025 at 9:42 AM
First round of podium presentations at #ESHE2025
Olivia Rivero, Alba Mesa, April Nowell,
@aurelienmounier.bsky.social, Chris Hunt explore everything from cognitive complexity, aDNA in cave art to the lives of teens in the #Palaeolithic and the amazing discoveries at #Shanidar!
Stay tuned!
Olivia Rivero, Alba Mesa, April Nowell,
@aurelienmounier.bsky.social, Chris Hunt explore everything from cognitive complexity, aDNA in cave art to the lives of teens in the #Palaeolithic and the amazing discoveries at #Shanidar!
Stay tuned!
Celebrating our wonderful PI @martamlahr.bsky.social for such an incredible achievement 🎉🍾🥂
July 19, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Celebrating our wonderful PI @martamlahr.bsky.social for such an incredible achievement 🎉🍾🥂
Justus Erus Edung was only 25 years old when he discovered Kenyanthropus platyops in a team led by Prof. Meave Leakey in 1999.
This 3.5 million year old “flat-faced” skull quickly grabbed international headlines and changed the course of human evolution.
#fossils #turkana #humanevolution
This 3.5 million year old “flat-faced” skull quickly grabbed international headlines and changed the course of human evolution.
#fossils #turkana #humanevolution
July 17, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Justus Erus Edung was only 25 years old when he discovered Kenyanthropus platyops in a team led by Prof. Meave Leakey in 1999.
This 3.5 million year old “flat-faced” skull quickly grabbed international headlines and changed the course of human evolution.
#fossils #turkana #humanevolution
This 3.5 million year old “flat-faced” skull quickly grabbed international headlines and changed the course of human evolution.
#fossils #turkana #humanevolution
Episode 2: Faunal identification with @deadbovids.bsky.social
Other than identification, tooth wear pattern can give us exciting insights into faunal diet and palaeoecology.
Other than identification, tooth wear pattern can give us exciting insights into faunal diet and palaeoecology.
July 15, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Episode 2: Faunal identification with @deadbovids.bsky.social
Other than identification, tooth wear pattern can give us exciting insights into faunal diet and palaeoecology.
Other than identification, tooth wear pattern can give us exciting insights into faunal diet and palaeoecology.
The joy of sorting LSA lithics from Turkana under the guidance of @robfoley.bsky.social
Follow us on Instagram for more www.instagram.com/palaeotrails...
Follow us on Instagram for more www.instagram.com/palaeotrails...
July 13, 2025 at 5:15 PM
The joy of sorting LSA lithics from Turkana under the guidance of @robfoley.bsky.social
Follow us on Instagram for more www.instagram.com/palaeotrails...
Follow us on Instagram for more www.instagram.com/palaeotrails...
What does the Ng'ipalajem team do?
Ng’ipalajem, meaning Ancestors in Turkana, is an ERC-funded project.
Led by @martamlahr.bsky.social, the project investigates how the emergence of Homo sapiens is deeply intertwined with Africa’s long-term environmental and ecological history.
#humanevolution
Ng’ipalajem, meaning Ancestors in Turkana, is an ERC-funded project.
Led by @martamlahr.bsky.social, the project investigates how the emergence of Homo sapiens is deeply intertwined with Africa’s long-term environmental and ecological history.
#humanevolution
July 11, 2025 at 8:12 AM
What does the Ng'ipalajem team do?
Ng’ipalajem, meaning Ancestors in Turkana, is an ERC-funded project.
Led by @martamlahr.bsky.social, the project investigates how the emergence of Homo sapiens is deeply intertwined with Africa’s long-term environmental and ecological history.
#humanevolution
Ng’ipalajem, meaning Ancestors in Turkana, is an ERC-funded project.
Led by @martamlahr.bsky.social, the project investigates how the emergence of Homo sapiens is deeply intertwined with Africa’s long-term environmental and ecological history.
#humanevolution
🎉 Members of the Palaeotrails team were recently awarded bursaries to attend this years #HumanEvo25 🧬💀
The team were delighted to participate in the dynamic interdisciplinary programme ranging from genetic 👻 🏜️ 🦠 🧫 to evolutionary 🤰👣⚔️🌍
Thank you @eventswcs.bsky.social
The team were delighted to participate in the dynamic interdisciplinary programme ranging from genetic 👻 🏜️ 🦠 🧫 to evolutionary 🤰👣⚔️🌍
Thank you @eventswcs.bsky.social
May 2, 2025 at 10:50 AM
🎉 Members of the Palaeotrails team were recently awarded bursaries to attend this years #HumanEvo25 🧬💀
The team were delighted to participate in the dynamic interdisciplinary programme ranging from genetic 👻 🏜️ 🦠 🧫 to evolutionary 🤰👣⚔️🌍
Thank you @eventswcs.bsky.social
The team were delighted to participate in the dynamic interdisciplinary programme ranging from genetic 👻 🏜️ 🦠 🧫 to evolutionary 🤰👣⚔️🌍
Thank you @eventswcs.bsky.social
A huge congratulations to all the #HumanEvo25 prize winners 👏
🎉 including Palaeotrails’s @avantikab.bsky.social who won a a prize for her poster Tracing Ancient Footsteps using sulphur isotopes 🏆
🎉 including Palaeotrails’s @avantikab.bsky.social who won a a prize for her poster Tracing Ancient Footsteps using sulphur isotopes 🏆
April 30, 2025 at 1:47 PM
A huge congratulations to all the #HumanEvo25 prize winners 👏
🎉 including Palaeotrails’s @avantikab.bsky.social who won a a prize for her poster Tracing Ancient Footsteps using sulphur isotopes 🏆
🎉 including Palaeotrails’s @avantikab.bsky.social who won a a prize for her poster Tracing Ancient Footsteps using sulphur isotopes 🏆
@dangliu.bsky.social
New genomic research reveals that genetic drift—not selection—likely shaped high risk of metabolic disorder in Polynesians, following ancient admixture and isolation. Unique variants underscore the value of studying diverse populations.
#HumanEvo25
New genomic research reveals that genetic drift—not selection—likely shaped high risk of metabolic disorder in Polynesians, following ancient admixture and isolation. Unique variants underscore the value of studying diverse populations.
#HumanEvo25
April 30, 2025 at 10:04 AM
@dangliu.bsky.social
New genomic research reveals that genetic drift—not selection—likely shaped high risk of metabolic disorder in Polynesians, following ancient admixture and isolation. Unique variants underscore the value of studying diverse populations.
#HumanEvo25
New genomic research reveals that genetic drift—not selection—likely shaped high risk of metabolic disorder in Polynesians, following ancient admixture and isolation. Unique variants underscore the value of studying diverse populations.
#HumanEvo25
Ruthie Golomb looks at Cell-Autonomous Adaptation (CAAs) in Tibetan, Andean & Papuan populations at high altitudes 🏔️
High altitudes are one of the most extreme environments humans live in. Methods combine complementary methods at the cellular and organismal level to identify novel CAAs.
#HumanEvo25
High altitudes are one of the most extreme environments humans live in. Methods combine complementary methods at the cellular and organismal level to identify novel CAAs.
#HumanEvo25
April 30, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Ruthie Golomb looks at Cell-Autonomous Adaptation (CAAs) in Tibetan, Andean & Papuan populations at high altitudes 🏔️
High altitudes are one of the most extreme environments humans live in. Methods combine complementary methods at the cellular and organismal level to identify novel CAAs.
#HumanEvo25
High altitudes are one of the most extreme environments humans live in. Methods combine complementary methods at the cellular and organismal level to identify novel CAAs.
#HumanEvo25
Ashley Hammond
"'Pregnancy waddle' has anatomical correlates"
Humans evolved early weaning, long childhood and post-reproductive care to boost brain growth.
Anatomical and dietary shifts in Homo Erectus (~1.7Ma) show earliest adaptations for big babies, early weaning, social learning.
#HumanEvo25
"'Pregnancy waddle' has anatomical correlates"
Humans evolved early weaning, long childhood and post-reproductive care to boost brain growth.
Anatomical and dietary shifts in Homo Erectus (~1.7Ma) show earliest adaptations for big babies, early weaning, social learning.
#HumanEvo25
April 30, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Ashley Hammond
"'Pregnancy waddle' has anatomical correlates"
Humans evolved early weaning, long childhood and post-reproductive care to boost brain growth.
Anatomical and dietary shifts in Homo Erectus (~1.7Ma) show earliest adaptations for big babies, early weaning, social learning.
#HumanEvo25
"'Pregnancy waddle' has anatomical correlates"
Humans evolved early weaning, long childhood and post-reproductive care to boost brain growth.
Anatomical and dietary shifts in Homo Erectus (~1.7Ma) show earliest adaptations for big babies, early weaning, social learning.
#HumanEvo25
Round 2 of the poster pitch talks! 🚨
Including Palaeotrails' @sarah-paris.bsky.social Otto Geissier and Tom Van Parys
From reconstructing populations to Ronaldo, come and see the wide range of fascinating research on display!
#HumanEvo25
Including Palaeotrails' @sarah-paris.bsky.social Otto Geissier and Tom Van Parys
From reconstructing populations to Ronaldo, come and see the wide range of fascinating research on display!
#HumanEvo25
April 29, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Round 2 of the poster pitch talks! 🚨
Including Palaeotrails' @sarah-paris.bsky.social Otto Geissier and Tom Van Parys
From reconstructing populations to Ronaldo, come and see the wide range of fascinating research on display!
#HumanEvo25
Including Palaeotrails' @sarah-paris.bsky.social Otto Geissier and Tom Van Parys
From reconstructing populations to Ronaldo, come and see the wide range of fascinating research on display!
#HumanEvo25
Marta Pla-Diaz
Combating the problems of using reference genomes to reconstruct aDNA from highly damaged samples 🧫
MRB strategy enabled reliable genome reconstruction. Identifying new recombination events, positive selection targets & refined dating estimates for T. pallidum evolution. #HumanEvo25
Combating the problems of using reference genomes to reconstruct aDNA from highly damaged samples 🧫
MRB strategy enabled reliable genome reconstruction. Identifying new recombination events, positive selection targets & refined dating estimates for T. pallidum evolution. #HumanEvo25
April 29, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Marta Pla-Diaz
Combating the problems of using reference genomes to reconstruct aDNA from highly damaged samples 🧫
MRB strategy enabled reliable genome reconstruction. Identifying new recombination events, positive selection targets & refined dating estimates for T. pallidum evolution. #HumanEvo25
Combating the problems of using reference genomes to reconstruct aDNA from highly damaged samples 🧫
MRB strategy enabled reliable genome reconstruction. Identifying new recombination events, positive selection targets & refined dating estimates for T. pallidum evolution. #HumanEvo25
Kirk Lohmueller
DominL uses patterns of archaic ancestry to infer degree of dominance. Provides statistical support for the presence of recessive deleterious mutations in the human genome. Up to 15% of the human genome may carry recessive deleterious mutations! 🧬
#HumanEvo25
DominL uses patterns of archaic ancestry to infer degree of dominance. Provides statistical support for the presence of recessive deleterious mutations in the human genome. Up to 15% of the human genome may carry recessive deleterious mutations! 🧬
#HumanEvo25
April 29, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Kirk Lohmueller
DominL uses patterns of archaic ancestry to infer degree of dominance. Provides statistical support for the presence of recessive deleterious mutations in the human genome. Up to 15% of the human genome may carry recessive deleterious mutations! 🧬
#HumanEvo25
DominL uses patterns of archaic ancestry to infer degree of dominance. Provides statistical support for the presence of recessive deleterious mutations in the human genome. Up to 15% of the human genome may carry recessive deleterious mutations! 🧬
#HumanEvo25
@judithbeier.bsky.social
Judith presents a new method using GLMs to estimate cranial trauma prevalence in N. and H.s. Results overturn long held misconceptions that N. had sig. higher rates of trauma when compared to H.s 💀 Ev. suggests a relationship with age, revealing social diff.
#HumanEvo25
Judith presents a new method using GLMs to estimate cranial trauma prevalence in N. and H.s. Results overturn long held misconceptions that N. had sig. higher rates of trauma when compared to H.s 💀 Ev. suggests a relationship with age, revealing social diff.
#HumanEvo25
April 29, 2025 at 2:47 PM
@judithbeier.bsky.social
Judith presents a new method using GLMs to estimate cranial trauma prevalence in N. and H.s. Results overturn long held misconceptions that N. had sig. higher rates of trauma when compared to H.s 💀 Ev. suggests a relationship with age, revealing social diff.
#HumanEvo25
Judith presents a new method using GLMs to estimate cranial trauma prevalence in N. and H.s. Results overturn long held misconceptions that N. had sig. higher rates of trauma when compared to H.s 💀 Ev. suggests a relationship with age, revealing social diff.
#HumanEvo25
Johannes Krause
“Germs are far deadlier than Germans”
aDNA reveals Yersinia pestis evolved virulent strains over 1,000 years earlier than thought, with the Black Death likely originating in Central Eurasia. Redefines plague history and offers insights to guide future outbreak response.
#HumanEvo25
“Germs are far deadlier than Germans”
aDNA reveals Yersinia pestis evolved virulent strains over 1,000 years earlier than thought, with the Black Death likely originating in Central Eurasia. Redefines plague history and offers insights to guide future outbreak response.
#HumanEvo25
April 29, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Johannes Krause
“Germs are far deadlier than Germans”
aDNA reveals Yersinia pestis evolved virulent strains over 1,000 years earlier than thought, with the Black Death likely originating in Central Eurasia. Redefines plague history and offers insights to guide future outbreak response.
#HumanEvo25
“Germs are far deadlier than Germans”
aDNA reveals Yersinia pestis evolved virulent strains over 1,000 years earlier than thought, with the Black Death likely originating in Central Eurasia. Redefines plague history and offers insights to guide future outbreak response.
#HumanEvo25
@hannesrathmann.bsky.social
Exploring human migrations & demographic change resulting from environ. change.
Applying new Pheno-ABC modelling method to skeletal phenotypes 🦷 Results show significant population migration patterns beginning ~47kya, changing ~28kya and again after ~14kya.
#HumanEvo25
Exploring human migrations & demographic change resulting from environ. change.
Applying new Pheno-ABC modelling method to skeletal phenotypes 🦷 Results show significant population migration patterns beginning ~47kya, changing ~28kya and again after ~14kya.
#HumanEvo25
April 29, 2025 at 12:20 PM
@hannesrathmann.bsky.social
Exploring human migrations & demographic change resulting from environ. change.
Applying new Pheno-ABC modelling method to skeletal phenotypes 🦷 Results show significant population migration patterns beginning ~47kya, changing ~28kya and again after ~14kya.
#HumanEvo25
Exploring human migrations & demographic change resulting from environ. change.
Applying new Pheno-ABC modelling method to skeletal phenotypes 🦷 Results show significant population migration patterns beginning ~47kya, changing ~28kya and again after ~14kya.
#HumanEvo25
Nancy Bird
New method infers admixture dates per individual, revealing multiple waves of ancient intermixing. Applied to Neanderthal and Neolithic Europe data, it uncovers finer migration patterns previously overlooked by grouping individuals. Compatible with tools like GLOBETROTTER.
#HumanEvo25
New method infers admixture dates per individual, revealing multiple waves of ancient intermixing. Applied to Neanderthal and Neolithic Europe data, it uncovers finer migration patterns previously overlooked by grouping individuals. Compatible with tools like GLOBETROTTER.
#HumanEvo25
April 29, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Nancy Bird
New method infers admixture dates per individual, revealing multiple waves of ancient intermixing. Applied to Neanderthal and Neolithic Europe data, it uncovers finer migration patterns previously overlooked by grouping individuals. Compatible with tools like GLOBETROTTER.
#HumanEvo25
New method infers admixture dates per individual, revealing multiple waves of ancient intermixing. Applied to Neanderthal and Neolithic Europe data, it uncovers finer migration patterns previously overlooked by grouping individuals. Compatible with tools like GLOBETROTTER.
#HumanEvo25
@romangarba.bsky.social
Combining archaeology and nuclear physics! ⚒️🌌
Roman shows how the ‘cosmic clock’ 🕰️ can help us investigate evolutionary timelines.
New dating using cosmogenic nuclides places Korolevo, Ukraine 🇺🇦 amongst the earliest hominin occupations in Europe at 1.42mya.
#HumanEvo25
Combining archaeology and nuclear physics! ⚒️🌌
Roman shows how the ‘cosmic clock’ 🕰️ can help us investigate evolutionary timelines.
New dating using cosmogenic nuclides places Korolevo, Ukraine 🇺🇦 amongst the earliest hominin occupations in Europe at 1.42mya.
#HumanEvo25
April 29, 2025 at 11:45 AM
@romangarba.bsky.social
Combining archaeology and nuclear physics! ⚒️🌌
Roman shows how the ‘cosmic clock’ 🕰️ can help us investigate evolutionary timelines.
New dating using cosmogenic nuclides places Korolevo, Ukraine 🇺🇦 amongst the earliest hominin occupations in Europe at 1.42mya.
#HumanEvo25
Combining archaeology and nuclear physics! ⚒️🌌
Roman shows how the ‘cosmic clock’ 🕰️ can help us investigate evolutionary timelines.
New dating using cosmogenic nuclides places Korolevo, Ukraine 🇺🇦 amongst the earliest hominin occupations in Europe at 1.42mya.
#HumanEvo25
@amy.goldberg.bsky.social
'Humans are bound by resources too - until agricultural societies'
Amy uses quantitative modelling based on genetic and archaeological data to prove that agriculture spurred growth in S. America associated with sedentism. Not just a European-specific event!
#HumanEvo25
'Humans are bound by resources too - until agricultural societies'
Amy uses quantitative modelling based on genetic and archaeological data to prove that agriculture spurred growth in S. America associated with sedentism. Not just a European-specific event!
#HumanEvo25
April 29, 2025 at 11:17 AM
@amy.goldberg.bsky.social
'Humans are bound by resources too - until agricultural societies'
Amy uses quantitative modelling based on genetic and archaeological data to prove that agriculture spurred growth in S. America associated with sedentism. Not just a European-specific event!
#HumanEvo25
'Humans are bound by resources too - until agricultural societies'
Amy uses quantitative modelling based on genetic and archaeological data to prove that agriculture spurred growth in S. America associated with sedentism. Not just a European-specific event!
#HumanEvo25