for the Search and Study of Modern Humans
Prof. Israel Hershkovitz
The laboratory focuses on three main topics:
- Searching for the origin of anatomically modern humans: the origin of anatomically modern Homo sapiens and the fate of the Neanderthals have been fundamental questions in human evolutionary studies for over a century. We are interested in answering fundamental questions in human paleontology such as: Where and when did modern humans first appear in the Levant? When did the Neanderthal arrive to the region? and were they interbreed with Homo sapiens? Are there evidence for the presence of other (non-Homo sapiens, non-Neanderthal) hominin group in the region during the Middle Paleolithic?
- Bipedality and human diseases: we are studying the association between common pathologies in modern populations and the transition to erect posture and bipedal locomotion.
- Forensic anthropology: we are developing methods for assessing and reconstructing car-pedestrian accident. Our research is focusing on the association between the pattern of fractures in the lower limb bones and the physical characteristic of the impact of the impact (size, velocity, etc.).
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