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

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.