Chronology

This research project develops new approaches to understanding the timing of human evolution and environmental change within the Cradle of Humankind. It focuses on improving the precision of dating methods applied to fossil-bearing deposits, with particular emphasis on faunal and hominin remains.

A key strand of the work involves the development of amino acid-based geochronologies derived from tooth enamel. Enamel is exceptionally well suited to this purpose due to its high degree of mineralisation, which preserves amino acids within its crystal structure over long periods. By analysing patterns of intra-crystalline protein degradation, including the conversion of L- to D-amino acids, it is possible to generate relative age estimates that can be calibrated into numerical timescales.

These amino acid dating approaches are integrated with advanced statistical techniques, including multivariate analysis and Bayesian modelling, allowing multiple amino acid signals to be combined into more robust chronological frameworks. This provides improved resolution and greater confidence in age estimates across different sites and taxa.

The resulting frameworks are cross-validated against established geochronological methods, such as uranium-series dating of flowstones, enabling the construction of reliable site chronologies. These, in turn, allow for more precise correlation with regional and global climate records, supporting a deeper understanding of how environmental change influenced faunal turnover and hominin occupation patterns.

Building on previous pilot studies, the project extends amino acid geochronology across multiple sites and taxa within the region, including key faunal groups and early hominins. This multi-site approach enables the development of integrated temporal frameworks that improve the resolution of Quaternary and Pliocene sequences.

Overall, this work aims to refine the chronological foundations of palaeoanthropological research, providing a stronger temporal context for interpreting evolutionary and ecological change.