Unravelling the mystery of the mighty ape's last stand (ARC Discovery Project administered by Macquarie University) (2017-2019)
Abstract
This project will provide critical new insights into the fate of primates in southern Asia, where evidence for megafaunal extinction is rare. The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Gigantopithecus blacki, the largest ever primate, has never been resolved despite contemporaneous human survival in the region. Applying multiple dating techniques modelled across key sites to identify a precise extinction window will enable a focused comparison of behaviour and past environmental conditions to determine why the ape failed and man persevered. This will generate a new understanding of past environmental change as a driver of megafaunal extinction in comparison with human adaption and survival.
