Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

The Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology focuses on matters regarding the origins of humankind. The Institute’s researchers study widely-differing aspects of human evolution. They analyse the genes, cultures and cognitive abilities of people living today and compare them with those of apes and extinct peoples. Scientists from various disciplines work closely together at the Institute: Geneticists trace the genetic make-up of extinct species, such as Neanderthals. Behaviourists and ecologists, for their part, study the behaviour of apes and other mammals.

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Burial with a horse at the Rákóczifalva site, Hungary (8th century AD). Sándor Hegedűs, Hungarian National Museum

Ancient nomads you’ve probably never heard of disappeared from Europe 1,000 years ago. Now, DNA analysis reveals how they lived

Magdalena M.E. Bunbury, James Cook University and Guido Alberto Gnecchi-Ruscone, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

The Avars dominated southeastern central Europe for hundreds of years, leaving one of the richest archaeological heritages in Europe. Now scientists are using DNA to reveal details of their societies.
Uma correspondência genética com uma pessoa antiga não significa que você tenha mais parentesco genealógico. Mark Edward Atkinson/Tetra Images via Getty Images

Testes de ancestralidade genética: saiba o que realmente significam seus resultados

Shai Carmi, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Harald Ringbauer, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

Os ancestrais genealógicos e genéticos não são a mesma coisa. Uma correspondência de DNA - ou a falta de uma - pode não lhe dizer o que você imagina sobre sua árvore genealógica.
A genetic match to an ancient person doesn’t mean you’re more related genealogically. Mark Edward Atkinson/Tetra Images via Getty Images

DNA says you’re related to a Viking, a medieval German Jew or a 1700s enslaved African? What a genetic match really means

Shai Carmi, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Harald Ringbauer, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

Genealogical and genetic ancestors aren’t the same thing. A DNA match − or a lack of one − may not tell you what you imagine it does about your family tree.
Pieter Bruegel the Elder / Wikimedia

Do languages become less complex with more new adult speakers? Research shows it’s not that simple

Sam Passmore, Australian National University; Olena Shcherbakova, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, and Simon Greenhill, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

The idea a language should grow simpler if people need to learn it as adults has an intuitive appeal. But an analysis of more than 1,200 languages shows this doesn’t quite stack up.
The Copper Age settlement of Pietrele, close to the river Danube in today’s Romania. © Konstantin Scheele, German Archaeological Institute, Eurasia Department; published in Penske et al. 2023

Ancient DNA reveals the earliest evidence of the last massive human migration to Western Europe

Adam "Ben" Rohrlach, University of Adelaide and Sandra Penske, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

Ancient DNA from Ukraine uncovers the earliest evidence of the arrival of the ‘steppe ancestry’ – the last piece of the modern Western European genetic puzzle.
Ancient DNA preserved in the tooth tartar of human fossils encodes microbial metabolites that could be the next antibiotic. Werner/Siemens Foundation

Reconstructing ancient bacterial genomes can revive previously unknown molecules – offering a potential source for new antibiotics

Christina Warinner, Harvard University; Alexander Hübner, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, and Pierre Stallforth, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena

Ancient microbes likely produced natural products their descendants today do not. Tapping into this lost chemical diversity could offer a potential source of new drugs.
Micro-drilling sediment blocks to extract powder for genetic analysis.

Digging deep: DNA molecules in ancient dirt offer a treasure trove of clues to our past

Mike W. Morley, Flinders University; Diyendo Massilani, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology; Matthias Meyer, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, and Richard 'Bert' Roberts, University of Wollongong

Genetic analysis of intact blocks of sediment from archaeological sites reveals that microscopic fragments of fossil bone and faeces are the main sources of ancient DNA.
Collection of sediment DNA samples in the Main Chamber of Denisova Cave. Bert Roberts

Dirty secrets: sediment DNA reveals a 300,000‑year timeline of ancient and modern humans living in Siberia

Elena Zavala, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology; Matthias Meyer, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology; Richard 'Bert' Roberts, University of Wollongong, and Zenobia Jacobs, University of Wollongong

Our research has also uncovered major long-term changes in ancient animal populations at Denisova Cave, and has provided the first direct evidence of Homo sapiens having lived there.
6-year-olds have the social skills to cooperatively overcome the competition of a resource dilemma. from www.shutterstock.com

What children can teach us about looking after the environment

Rebecca Koomen, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

New research shows that children as young as six have the social skills necessary to cooperate and sustain a shared resource.
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