The First People Project

P.Taçon

The nature of Homo erectus, shown by way of this Indonesian statue, is a focal point of The First People Project.

We are developing a new physical anthropology research program at the Museum. Known as 'The First People Project', it was launched in March 2002 with a controversial article in the Museum's science magazine Nature Australia.

The article, by Paul Taçon and Colin Pardoe, is meant to engage and excite the public, as well as specialist colleagues. A major thrust of The First People Project will be a new five-year project examining the role of Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Pacific Ocean, in the evolution of modern humans. There will be particular relevance for Australia but it will be quite broad in perspective. The project will be headed by Alan Thorne, Australian National University, and Paul Taçon but a range of Australian-based and overseas specialists will be involved, along with both graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, some based at the Museum.

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