The extinction of Neanderthals remains one of the great unresolved mysteries of our ancient history. What are the causes that led to the disappearance of this human species? What is the timeframe and spatial context? What is the chain of events that led to the development of this phenomenon?

LAST NEANDERTHALS is the new, major research project, funded with 13 million euros by the European Research Council (ERC), which will seek answers to these questions by expanding archaeological research beyond the context of Western and Central Europe.

The project is funded in the framework of an ERC Synergy Grant, an European Commission’s initiative aimed at expanding our knowledge through synergies between different research groups, each led by a Principal Investigator with a significant scientific background.

LAST NEANDERTHALS is the second ERC Synergy Grant won by the University of Siena (after the project “Attack”, led by Prof.ssa Cosima Baldari).

Francesco Berna is Siena’s principal investigator and he will work “in synergy” with other Universities as Bologna, Haifa, Pisa and Cologne.

Read more information here.