CHRONOS: Cradle of Humankind: Refining our Origins; a New chronology of Our Species
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY OF YORK
Abstract
The CHRONOS project will improve our understanding of human evolution by addressing challenges in dating key fossils from the Cradle of Humankind in South Africa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its significant fossil finds. The region has yielded exceptional specimens, including Australopithecus africanus, Paranthropus robustus, and early Homo species. These fossils provide crucial insights into major evolutionary milestones, such as the origins of upright walking and early dietary adaptations. Accurately dating these fossils, particularly those from the Early Pleistocene and Late Pliocene (~3.6-0.8 Ma), remains a significant challenge, yet it is crucial for constructing a reliable timeline of human evolution.
Current age estimates for key sites (such as Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, and Drimolen) often have broad age ranges, or conflicting age estimates from different dating techniques, making it difficult to pinpoint the timing of evolutionary transitions and hence causation. To overcome these challenges, this project will apply amino acid geochronology, an innovative method which directly dates fossil teeth, something current techniques often cannot achieve. By measuring the breakdown of amino acids in enamel over time, this process acts as a "molecular clock". Primarily relying on the predictable racemisation (the interconversion between their D and L forms) of a suite of amino acids, this clock delivers a reliable relative chronological framework. Providing a more accurate timeline for significant evolutionary events, such as the shift from Australopithecus to Paranthropus and early Homo will enhance our understanding of early human evolution, faunal changes, and past climates.
This project aims to further develop the application of amino acid dating, applying recently developed ‘lab-on-a-chip’ microfluidics technology to conduct analyses in the country of origin, as well as extending the technique to micromammals. Micromammals are responsive to climate, so dating them will provide the opportunity to answer questions about past climates. To ensure dating robustness, the project will apply advanced statistical modelling, such as Bayesian Modelling, to refine age estimates using the multi-parameter amino acid dataset. This novel integrated approach will unlock valuable insights from both existing and newly discovered fossils, helping to resolve long-standing debates in human evolution.
This project supports heritage conservation and enhances scientific understanding. Museums and educational institutions will be able to present more accurate narratives about human evolution, making exhibitions more engaging for the public. The project also adds value to existing fossil collections, providing reliable dates for curated material which lacks provenance. Moreover, close collaboration with local researchers will bolster scientific capabilities in South Africa, through specialised training in amino acid geochronology and equipping them with the expertise to apply this advanced dating technique. Beyond training, it will establish a lasting legacy by developing a robust geochronological framework that can be applied to various taxa across the region. This will allow for more accurate dating of fossils and faunal remains, strengthening research into human evolution and past environments in the Cradle of Humankind and beyond.
Now is the ideal time for this research. Our recent advances in enamel-based protein analysis for amino acid geochronology have greatly enhanced dating accuracy and precision, while our innovations in microfluidic technology (lab-on-a-chip) enable more efficient and high-throughput sample processing. By applying these cutting-edge techniques to one of the world’s most significant fossil regions, this project will refine our understanding of our ancestors, helping to establish a clear and precise timeline of our origins.
Current age estimates for key sites (such as Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, and Drimolen) often have broad age ranges, or conflicting age estimates from different dating techniques, making it difficult to pinpoint the timing of evolutionary transitions and hence causation. To overcome these challenges, this project will apply amino acid geochronology, an innovative method which directly dates fossil teeth, something current techniques often cannot achieve. By measuring the breakdown of amino acids in enamel over time, this process acts as a "molecular clock". Primarily relying on the predictable racemisation (the interconversion between their D and L forms) of a suite of amino acids, this clock delivers a reliable relative chronological framework. Providing a more accurate timeline for significant evolutionary events, such as the shift from Australopithecus to Paranthropus and early Homo will enhance our understanding of early human evolution, faunal changes, and past climates.
This project aims to further develop the application of amino acid dating, applying recently developed ‘lab-on-a-chip’ microfluidics technology to conduct analyses in the country of origin, as well as extending the technique to micromammals. Micromammals are responsive to climate, so dating them will provide the opportunity to answer questions about past climates. To ensure dating robustness, the project will apply advanced statistical modelling, such as Bayesian Modelling, to refine age estimates using the multi-parameter amino acid dataset. This novel integrated approach will unlock valuable insights from both existing and newly discovered fossils, helping to resolve long-standing debates in human evolution.
This project supports heritage conservation and enhances scientific understanding. Museums and educational institutions will be able to present more accurate narratives about human evolution, making exhibitions more engaging for the public. The project also adds value to existing fossil collections, providing reliable dates for curated material which lacks provenance. Moreover, close collaboration with local researchers will bolster scientific capabilities in South Africa, through specialised training in amino acid geochronology and equipping them with the expertise to apply this advanced dating technique. Beyond training, it will establish a lasting legacy by developing a robust geochronological framework that can be applied to various taxa across the region. This will allow for more accurate dating of fossils and faunal remains, strengthening research into human evolution and past environments in the Cradle of Humankind and beyond.
Now is the ideal time for this research. Our recent advances in enamel-based protein analysis for amino acid geochronology have greatly enhanced dating accuracy and precision, while our innovations in microfluidic technology (lab-on-a-chip) enable more efficient and high-throughput sample processing. By applying these cutting-edge techniques to one of the world’s most significant fossil regions, this project will refine our understanding of our ancestors, helping to establish a clear and precise timeline of our origins.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Marc Dickinson (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |