Advanced computer modelling of hominin dispersal from Africa: integrating archaeological and palaeoclimatic simulations.
This project combined expertise from the fields of climatology and archaeology in order to develop a new computer model for exploring, through simulation, hominin dispersal out of Africa. Our process-based approach built on the Stepping Out model of hominin colonisation developed by Professor Steven Mithen of Reading University. It also incorporates information from palaeoclimatic simulations by Professor Paul Valdes of Bristol University which were completed using the Hadley Centre climate model.
The methods developed during this project provide a powerful method for integrating genetic, fossil, archaeological and climate data, to increase our understanding of prehistoric migration.