Blog
Humans of Anthropology
The Leakey Foundation, Behind the Science Science is a collaborative endeavor and long-term projects require the work of multiple generations of researchers. At the 2019 meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, The Leakey Foundation set out to document the academic "families" of biological anthropology. All of the portraits are now available on our website.
Baby Steps: This Ancient Skull Is Helping Us Trace the Path That Led to Modern Childhood
Journal Article New findings by Leakey Foundation grantees reveal the slowing down of brain development in our ape-like ancestors began more than three million-years-ago.
Oldest Ever Human Genetic Evidence Retrieved from 800,000-Year-Old Fossil
Journal Article An important advancement in human evolution studies has been achieved after scientists retrieved the oldest human genetic data set from an 800,000-year-old tooth belonging to the hominin species Homo antecessor.
Grantee Spotlight: Harmonie Klein
Grantee Spotlight Harmonie Klein is a PhD candidate studying hunting and meat sharing among wild chimpanzees in Gabon. This community of chimpanzees is newly habituated to human presence and Klein is learning a lot about their cooperative behaviors.
Female Chimps with Powerful Moms Are Less Likely to Leave Home
Journal Article Chimps are unusual among mammals in that daughters, not sons, typically pick up their roots at puberty and move away from their families. But in Gombe National Park, some chimpanzee females stay put instead of moving out.
Grantee Spotlight: Mareike Janiak
Grantee Spotlight What makes humans such "adaptable" and flexible creatures, especially when it comes to what we eat? Primates, in general, can survive on a wide variety of foods, but there are also a lot of species with a range of really specialized diets, like those focused on insects, leaves, or fruit, and all of these foods have different challenges when it comes to digesting them. Mareike Janiak's research is focused on understanding how the species in these different dietary niches have adapted to digesting their foods.
A Tiny Bone from Little Foot’s Skeleton Adds Fresh Insights into What Our Ancestors Could Do
Journal Article New research on an Australopithecus fossil called "Little Foot" helps us better understand how these ancient hominins lived. The findings suggest that this specimen could climb and move in trees as well as on the ground.
From the Field: Margaret Buehler
From the Field Margaret Buehler's research strives to answer a seemingly simple, yet important, evolutionary question about primates that live in groups: why do specific primates choose to live together?
Important Information for Current Leakey Foundation Grant Recipients
Grants, The Leakey Foundation University travel restrictions and personal health considerations due to COVID-19 may impact Leakey Foundation grant project timelines. Read more to learn how this issue can be addressed.
Important Update on Leakey Foundation Events and COVID-19
The Leakey Foundation After careful consideration, The Leakey Foundation has made the decision to cancel and reschedule our spring Speaker Series events in Houston and San Francisco. If you have purchased a ticket, please contact the museum you purchased your tickets from.
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