Untersuchung der Ursprünge des menschenähnlichen Werkzeuggebrauchs durch die Kombination von funktioneller Morphologie und Muskel-Skelett-Modellierung

01/01/2026 to 31/12/2028

This project focuses on the evolutionary origins of human-like stone tool use through the
understanding of the emergence of human-like cutting behaviors in the early fossil hominin record.
It relies on the assumption that the use of the first cutting stone tools might be reflected in the
thumb and index finger, possibly with a complementary use of the middle finger. It thus proposes
to analyze the grasping/cutting dexterity in relation to musculoskeletal anatomy. By investigating
the possibility of this activity in early hominins, it proposes to date its appearance in our lineage.
The question addressed is original and complementary to previous works about the evolution of
tool use and grasping abilities in hominoids, hand biomechanics, simulations of the neuromusculoskeletal system, and behavior reconstructions, as reflected by the previous researches
from the 3 PIs: F.A. Karakostis, D. Häufle, and T.L. Kivell. It is at the intersection of interests from
diverse research fields and should thus be of interest to a wide community.