Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

Neanderthal’s heel: How the Neanderthal’s external calcaneal shape uniquely differs from that of modern humans

Neanderthals exhibit unique morphological adaptations in their calcaneus compared to Homo sapiens , shedding light on distinct evolutionary pressures and functional requirements shaping their respective foot anatomy. This study assesses which calcaneal traits represent plesiomorp...

Social and economic consequences of prestige and dominance in rural Colombian social networks

Abstract Social status regulates influence and well-being in most social animals. In humans, social status can be attained via distinct routes: prestige (tracking the ability of individuals to confer benefits) and dominance (tracking the ability of individuals to inflict costs)....

Longitudinal changes in gut microbiota across reproductive states in wild baboons

Background: In humans and other mammals, female reproduction is linked to extensive changes in physiology, immunity, hormones, and behavior. These changes likely shape, and may be shaped by, the composition of gut microbial communities. Characterizing the dynamics of gut microbia...

Social cues on stone tools outweigh raw material properties in wild primates

1. Abstract The ability to select appropriate tool material enabled early hominins access to new resources and environments. The underlying mechanisms driving tool selection effectively remain unknown. Observations of extant primates have demonstrated strong selectivity for speci...

German guitars, Lithuanian violins and Norwegian pancakes: metonymy meets the Agreement Hierarchy

Abstract Two-way agreement alternatives are familiar ( this family has/have travelled all night ), but larger systems (with multiple agreement alternatives) are rare and remain poorly understood. Focusing on German, Norwegian and Lithuanian, we see how metonyms and their interact...