PaleoHunters

The extinction of Neanderthals, after coexisting briefly with Homo sapiens, remains a mystery in human evolution. Disagreement persists on whether differences in diet and hunting tactics influenced this outcome. In this sense, the role of an animal's sex may also have influenced prey choice, but archaeological methods remain limited in determining this parameter. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme (MSCA), the PaleoHunters project addresses this unresolved debate. Unlike traditional methods that focus on skeletal morphological studies, PaleoHunters pioneers palaeoproteomics to determine ungulate sex. By analysing tooth enamel proteins, the project reevaluates subsistence behaviour in Neanderthals and Homo sapiens of northern Iberia and southwestern France. Integrating biomolecular and zooarchaeological methods promises fresh insights into long-standing archaeological debates on human behaviour.