ID:
S_129/176
Human Behavioural Modernity in the Quaternary: Biological Roots and Cultural Expressions
Lead Convener
Gyaneshwer Chaubey Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India. gyaneshwer.chaubey@bhu.ac.in & Manish Kumar Rai Department of Neurology Instuite of Medical science, Banaras Hindu University, India. manishrai@bhu.ac.in
Co Convener(s)
Sachin Kumar Tiwary Department of AIHC & Archaeology Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India. sachintiwary@bhu.ac.in Pratik Pandey Department of AIHC & Archaeology Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India. archaeopratik@bhu.ac.in Shailesh Dudhabhai Desai Department of Zoology Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India. shaileshdesai76@bhu.ac.in Vijay Nath Mishra Department of Neurology Instuite of Medical Science Banaras Hindu University, India. vnmishra_2000@yahoo.com Jose Tom Rapheal Department of AIHC & Archaeology, Banaras Hindu University, India. jtrapheal@bhu.ac.in Pratik Pandey Department of AIHC & Archaeology, Banaras Hindu University, India. archaeopratik@bhu.ac.in Satyam Bharti Department of AIHC & Archaeology, Banaras Hindu University, India. bhartisatyam@bhu.ac.in
Session Keywords
Behavioral modernity, Lithic technology, Rock art, Cultural complexity Human evolution and Genomics
Commission
HABCOM
Abstract Category
Geoarcheology
Session Description
The Quaternary (~2.6 million years ago to present) was a crucial phase in human evolution, witnessing major climatic shifts and remarkable biological and cultural transformations. This session examines how fossil, genetic, and archaeological evidence together illuminate the emergence of behavioural modernity in the genus Homo. It focuses on the biological roots of cognition, symbolic activity, technological advancement, and cultural innovation that define modern humans. We invite interdisciplinary studies combining genomics, palaeoanthropology, and archaeology to explore how environmental challenges and population dynamics shaped human adaptability. Regional perspectives, especially from South Asia, are encouraged. The goal is to integrate diverse approaches to understand how evolving minds, genes, and cultures shaped human history during the Quaternary.
