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University of Bergen
First human illustrations

SAPIENCE

Centre for Early Sapiens Behaviour (SapienCE) aims to increase our understanding of how and when Homo sapiens evolved into who we are today.

Conference
Logo to the conference with the title, information about dates and place and the arrangers.
Nov 28

International Conference: The Archaeology and Anthropology of Body Modification

Francesco d’Errico (CNRS, Univ. of Bordeaux, France; SapienCE, Univ. of Bergen, Norway) and Franz Manni (National Museum Natural History, Paris) welcome to this 3-day conference in Paris, France in November.

News
Image of UVDAL STAVE CHURCH (1170 A.D.)

Ancient proteins reveal secrets of Uvdal Stave Church

A new study published in Scientific Reports shows that hide glue made from calfskin was used as a binder in the paints used to produce Uvdal stave church’s decorations. Surprisingly, tests also uncovered traces of human saliva.

NEW RESEARCH
Group of people gathres looking like ancient people

A Call for New Perspectives on Cognitive Evolution

A recent study at SapienCE calls for a more nuanced approach to understanding the evolution of human cognition, arguing that research on the mental abilities of humans – in the present and the past – needs to incorporate cultural and cognitive diversity more explicitly.

THE DE HOOP EXHIBITION - SAPIENCE
Image from the de hoop exhibition showing insights into the lifestyles and behaviours of early humans.

We are all one

A new SapienCE exhibition has opened in South Africa. The 'Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour” showcases unique archaeological discoveries offering visitors a distinct cultural experience in the heart of the De Hoop Nature Reserve.

News
Jenny Macalli, scientist at SapienCE Collecting data loggers inside Bloukrantz cave, February 2023

Decoding Past Climates through Dripstones

A recent study demonstrates how dripstones can be crucial for reconstructing past climates. The new approach can provide a detailed picture of the climate around early human occupations in South Africa.

Sapience logo

SapienCE was established in 2017 by the Research Council of Norway in collaboration with the University of Bergen. The SapienCE Centre is cooperating closely with the University of the Witwatersrand, Norce, Royal Holloway University of London, Université de Bordeaux and Universität Tübingen.

SapienCE is part of the Research Council of Norway's Centres of Excellence (CoE) scheme. The scheme organizes the activities of Norway’s foremost scientific circles in centres to achieve ambitious scientific objectives through collaboration and long-term basic funding.

Exhibitions

Early Human Behaviour
26.05.23–01.12.24