University of Algarve has granted 2 million Euros to a researcher for human evolution study. This human evolution study will be done in Africa to learn more about human nature. The main focus of the project will be on the Albertine Rift within Uganda.

€2 Million Grant Given By University of Algarve

A British researcher, Tomos Proffitt has been chosen for the research study on human evolution within Africa. This study will mainly focus on Uganda and the nearby regions of the country. Tomos works at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behaviour (ICArEHB) at the University of Algarve. He received the Consolidator grant from the European Research Council (ERC). Tomos’ project aims to find new evidence about the early hominins and how these people adapted to the environmental changes. This project is named “Western Rift Archaeology and Paleoenvironment Project (WRAP)”.

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There were 2313 applications from 43 countries across the world that applied for the fund. 328 applications were selected out of the total applications. These applications were selected after the bid was successful. Tomos is one of the three researchers who were selected in Portugal to secure ERC funding for this year.  Tomos Proffitt has given his reviews:

It is a great honor to receive a Consolidator Grant from the ERC. It will allow us to deeply study and better understand this potentially crucial region in the history of humanity, as well as establish long-term research in this understudied region.

Algarve University Research Human Evolution

The purpose of the Algarve University for giving this grant is to find out more about the evolution of humans. They want to find out how the first humans adapted to their surroundings environmentally. The research will also focus on the adaptation of humans to the western section of the Rift compared with the dry area of the same region.

Albertine Rift in Uganda is considered a biodiversity place where the majority of tropical forests are present. These tropical forests connect with Western Africa’s savannas which is the perfect place for research. It provides a unique setting to trace the first steps of human evolution. Although recent research shows a different reality of adaptation to several habitats, the success of the first hominids can be found in the same spot.

This project will focus on finding the adaptation of the first humans. It will require more usage of technology including remote sensing, digs, and systematic surveys of the region in Uganda. Tomos will focus on identifying the archaeological sites in the Albertine Rift. Then these chosen sites will be excavated.

Albertine Rift: Main Focus Of Project

Previously, the eastern and southern sides of the Rift Valley received more attention from the majority of researchers. However, Tomos wants to go in a different direction and explore the Albertine Rift, which has received very little attention in the past. According to the University of Algarve, the goal for the project is as follows:

[Goal of the project is] how and when the first hominids lived, and if they adapted and thrived in this ecologically rich region.

The University of Algarve believes that the project will be successful in the future. Upon the success of this project, the scope of the work will be expanded. Researchers from Portugal, the United States, Spain, Uganda, and the United Kingdom will be contacted for their expertise in the expanded work. The main aim of this research is to challenge all the old ideas about human adaptation to the environment.

ICArEHB, a research institution in Faro, is behind this project. This is the third project by the organization which focuses on human evolution in Africa. They have already done 5 projects in 4 years before this one. That is why they have received the ERC grant for similar projects in the past as well. Research institutions like this show:

[Research Institutions] showing the capacity of Portuguese and Algarve research institutions to attract national and international talent and contribute to science and innovation on a global level.

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