News 2019

The Paleo-Science & History Group (with the support of the Department of Archaeogenetics) is organising a joint workshop with the Institute of History of the University of Jena (FSU) on the applications of scientific methods to the study of the Middle Ages.
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Schmid was awarded the prize in June 2019 for his master thesis: "A computer-based cultural evolution model for the propagation dynamics of European Bronze Age burial customs". [more]

Dr. Stephan Schiffels and Joscha Gretzinger use genetic analysis to help restore dignity to unethically obtained skeletons in South Africa [more]

"The 39-year-old's laboratory specializes in the analysis of ancient DNA, thus combining the disciplines of archaeology and genetics. It is one of a handful of institutions worldwide that regularly produce spectacular research results on human history."

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The Department of Archaeogenetics supported the Westfälisches Landesmuseum für Archäologie in Herne with the conception and realization of a large new special exhibition on the history of the plague and its worldwide effects. [more]

The Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History’s Johannes Krause among four principal investigators to head HistoGenes - a project integrating genetic, archaeological and historical perspectives on Eastern Central Europe, 400-900 AD.

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Archaeogenetic analyses provide new insights into social inequality 4000 years ago: nuclear families lived together with foreign women and individuals from lower social classes in the same household. [more]

The Institute will be hosting a variety of events from October 7-10 to bring awareness to these issues, organized by the Mental Health Awareness Week Committee. [more]

Analysis of 34 ancient plague genomes from the Black Death and succeeding plague epidemics in Europe between the 14^th and 17^th centuries, reveals how the bacterium diversified after a single introduction. [more]

Johannes Krause is one of the authors of the Jena Declaration by which evolutionary researchers and zoologists oppose seemingly scientific justifications for racism and argue that the concept of race lacks any biological basis. In zoology and anthropology, the authors concludes, "today and in the future, not using the term race should be part of scientific decency".
Photo: Jürgen Scheere/FSU [more]

Scientific analysis of dental calculus of the victims of famine found evidence of corn, oats, potatoes, wheat and dairy foods. [more]

The highly competitive grants will allow the recipients to fund research groups on their projects "PANTROPOCENE: Finding a Pre-industrial, Pan-tropical 'Anthropocene'", "MICROSCOPE: Zooming into the Population History of Iron Age Europe with Rare Genetic Variants", and "FEDD: Fruits of Eurasia: Domestication and Dispersal". [more]

Date: August 7-9, 2019
Room: Villa V04
Host: Department of Archaeogenetics
Organizer: Kathrin Nägele [more]

Ancient genomes suggest that the Philistines descended from people who migrated across the Mediterranean and reached the shores of the southern Levant at the beginning of the Iron Age. [more]

The Otto Hahn Medal is awarded annually by the Max Planck Society to approximately 30 young researchers for best PhD thesis. The prizes are awarded at the general meeting of the MPG each June and are among the most prestigious honors for PhD students in Germany. [more]

An ancient population of Arctic hunter-gatherers, known as Paleo-Eskimos, made a significant genetic contribution to populations living in Arctic North America today. [more]

Analysis of 8 new plague genomes from the first plague pandemic reveals previously unknown levels of plague diversity, and provides the first genetic evidence of the Justinianic Plague in the British Isles. [more]

Over the past decade, research on ancient pathogens has been greatly enhanced by advances in ancient genomics. Researchers have been using new methods to make important discoveries, while some challenges remain. [more]

Researchers combining genetics, archaeology, history and linguistics have gained new insights into the history of inner Eurasia, once a cultural and genetic crossroads connecting Europe and Asia. [more]

"Dairying Diversity and Food Sovereignty on the Eurasian Steppes"
A Travelling Conference
May 18-28, 2019
Ulaanbaatar, Monglia and Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan [more]

EMBO|EMBL Symposium
Mar. 31 - Apr. 3, 2019
Location: EMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Co-Organized by Johannes Krause [more]

Date & Time: Apr 9, 2019, 15:00
Speaker: Prof. Alison Beach
Room: Villa V14
Host: Department of Archaeogenetics [more]

The first farmers from Anatolia, who brought farming to Europe and represent the single largest ancestral component in modern-day Europeans, are directly descended from local hunter-gatherers who adopted a farming way of life. [more]

Two studies, one looking at Iberian hunter-gatherers between 13,000 and 6000 years ago and another looking at Iberian populations over the last 8000 years, add new resolution to our understanding of the history and prehistory of the region. [more]

The journey of our genes - A story about us and our ancestors
Where are we from? Who are we? What distinguishes us from others? These questions are more urgent today than ever before. Johannes Krause and Thomas Trappe go back to prehistory and tell us how Europeans became who they are today. [more]

Date: March 11, 2019
Room: Oval Office 103
Host: Department of Linguistic and Cultural Evolution & Department of Archaeogenetics [more]

The 3-part program by ZDF, Arte and Gruppe 5, featuring Russell Gray and Johannes Krause, has won the German Television Prize for Best Documentary of 2018! Congratulations! [more]

Genetic studies of ancient populations in the Caucasus region testify to the complex interaction of populations from the Eurasian steppe and the Caucasus Mountains in the Bronze Age. [more]

Analysis of the fossilized dental plaque of a medieval woman reveals lapis lazuli, suggesting she was an accomplished painter of illuminated manuscripts. [more]