Field missions

Missions Romania Franco-Romanian Paleontological Research Project Neogene formations of theEastern Carpathians foreland, Romania Contact: Guillaume Daver& Bogdan G. Rătoi (Iaşi, Romania) General research question The initial presence of great apes in Europe is dated to between 16 Ma and 14 Ma (Middle Miocene). From this period onward, dispersal routes between Eurasia and Africa facilitated their spread. Within this context, a European origin has been proposed for the group uniting gorillas, chimpanzees and humans, implying a return of great apes to Africa during the Late Miocene. The region studied lies at the heart of these possible dispersal routes. Selected results Although still in its early stages, the Franco-Romanian paleontological project has already yielded encouraging initial results after only a few study missions: numerous vertebrate fossils have been unearthed and are now under study. Mission structure “This mission is the subject of a collaboration between PALEVOPRIM and “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University. Funding Initial funding for the field missions and exchange visits to date has been provided by PALEVOPRIM and “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iaşi. Romania Sediment sampling Romania Drying of collected sediments. Romania Uncovering of a fossilturtle shell.