2024 News from the MPI of Geoanthropology

Biochemical analysis of the bones of humans and muscovy ducks reveals the significance of maize to diets at the same time as significant socioeconomic complexity. more

On December 17, 2024, the Max Planck Society welcomed approximately 400 guests from politics, business, and society to its, Prelude 2025, held at the Festsaal Kreuzberg in Berlin. Max Planck Society President, Patrick Cramer, opened the event with a call for justice. In his speech, he advocated for the establishment of an independent Chief Scientific Advisor to the Federal Government, similar to roles held by Chief Scientific Advisors in countries such as Canada and the UK.  more

An international study led by Gino Caspari of the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology traced the origins of the Scythian culture to Siberia, becoming one of Archaeology Magazine’s Top 10 Discoveries of 2024 more

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EUROpest aims to replace simplistic models of disease with a more comprehensive approach, enabling a more detailed understanding of historical disease outbreaks and a blueprint for navigating future ones more

As part of the Max-Planck- based RESILIENT group’s activities, the avant-première of the documentary Amazonia: Coeur de la Terre Mère (Amazonia: Heart of the Mother Earth) is being planned within the framework of the Planète Amazone NGO’s tour in Europe. The event is organized by the General History Department and the Latino Lab of the University of Geneva, in collaboration with MPI GEA researchers. more

Researchers have developed an AI-powered method to analyze historical scientific texts, revealing how knowledge spread and evolved across early modern Europe. By examining centuriues of astronomical textbooks, the AI shows how scientific frameworks both expanded and adapted over time. This approach offers a promising tool for historical research, providing new insights into the evolution of scientific thought and potentially aiding future studies in diverse knowledge areas. more