Human fossils provide an incredible lens through which to understand the behavior and biology of past human populations. Although the human fossil record is scarce for the Pleistocene in Portugal, multidisciplinary studies continue to produce a wealth of information on morphological variability and population dynamics, pathology, developmental anomalies, habitual behavior, diet, and mobility, among other topics. In this talk, we will explore the methodologies and conclusions of past and ongoing research through case studies of human fossil remains from the Late Middle Pleistocene (Acheulean) sites of Gruta da Aroeira and Gruta do Aderno (Torres Novas); the Middle Paleolithic (Mustierense) sites of Gruta da Oliveira (Torres Novas); and the Upper Paleolithic human remains of the Gravetense of Abrigo do Lagar Velho (Leiria), the Solutrean of Gruta do Caldeirão (Tomar), the Solutrean of Lapa do Suão (Bombarral) and the Madalenense of Galeria da Cisterna (Torres Novas). Virtual approaches to human population dynamics, behavior and taphonomy versus paleopathology in the Ancient Prehistory of Portugal will also be discussed.
speakers
John Willman
John Willman is a researcher at CIAS-Centro de Investigação em Antropologia e Saúde (University of Coimbra) where he is co-director of the Virtual Anthropology Laboratory and member of the Prehistory Laboratory. His research program covers topics in Paleoanthropology, Bioarchaeology and Domestication Studies, with a focus on multidisciplinary approaches to reconstructing past human lifeways. He is currently co-directing fieldwork at the Middle Pleistocene site of Gruta do Aderno, Torres Novas.