Field missions

Missions Greece Franco-Greek Paleontological Mission Western Macedonia, northern Greece Contact: Gildas Merceron General research question The excavations at Dafnero aim to describe the faunas and environments of the Balkans during the Early Pleistocene, a key age and region in the evolution of the genus Homo during the first dispersal out of Africa. Selected results These excavations led to the discovery of an almost complete skull of a papionin monkey (a group that includes present-day baboons and macaques). In addition, dental microwear texture analysis of ruminants, particularly cervids, from this site indicates a diet rich in grasses, thus attesting to open landscapes with abundant herbaceous vegetation. Mission structure These excavations are conducted jointly by the Greek team from the Laboratory of Geology and Physical Geography (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece) and the French team (PALEVOPRIM, CNRS and University of Poitiers, France). Funding In addition to funding from PALEVOPRIM’s own resources, these field missions have been supported by a CNRS PICS project (no. 5182, 2009–2012) and by the National Geographic Society (2016–2017). Dafnero site Fossils being uncovered on site. Dafnero site Paleontological excavations. Dafnero site Fossils being uncovered on site. Dafnero site Careful uncovering of a fossil.