Walter Neves
Encyclopedia
Walter Neves is a Brazil
ian anthropologist, archaeologist and biologist
from the University of São Paulo
(USP), Brazil
. He is best known for his analysis of the morphological
characteristics of early human remains in South America
.
Neves analyzed the circa 10,000-year old skull "Luzia
" found near Belo Horizonte
, Brazil, revealing morphological characteristics that differ significantly from typical Amerind remains.
Neves' findings open many questions regarding the timing and routes of human migration to the New World
. Roughly 70 individuals with similar characteristics have been found in the same region.
Neves graduated with a degree in Biological Sciences from University of São Paulo in 1981, and did pre-doctorate work at Stanford University
and UC-Berkeley in 1982. He earned his doctorate in Biological Sciences from University of São Paulo in 1984, and did post-doctorate work at the Center for American Archeology at the University of Illinois in 1985 and at the USP's Department of Anthropology from 1991 to 1992. He also earned a Livre Docência degree (a postdoctorate title earned by submitting a second thesis) in Human Evolution at the USP's Department of Genetics and Biological Evolution in 2000.
Since 1992, Neves has served as an associate professor with the USP's Departament of Biology, where he founded and coordinates the Laboratório de Estudos Evolutivos Humanos (Laboratory for Human Evolution Studies).
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian anthropologist, archaeologist and biologist
Biologist
A biologist is a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of life. Typically biologists study organisms and their relationship to their environment. Biologists involved in basic research attempt to discover underlying mechanisms that govern how organisms work...
from the University of São Paulo
University of São Paulo
Universidade de São Paulo is a public university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is the largest Brazilian university and one of the country's most prestigious...
(USP), Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. He is best known for his analysis of the morphological
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
characteristics of early human remains in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.
Neves analyzed the circa 10,000-year old skull "Luzia
Luzia Woman
right|thumb|250px|Reconstruction of her faceLuzia Woman is the name for the skeleton of a woman found in a cave in Brazil, South America. Some archaeologists believe the young woman may have been part of the first wave of immigrants to South America...
" found near Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte is the capital of and largest city in the state of Minas Gerais, located in the southeastern region of Brazil. It is the third largest metropolitan area in the country...
, Brazil, revealing morphological characteristics that differ significantly from typical Amerind remains.
Neves' findings open many questions regarding the timing and routes of human migration to the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
. Roughly 70 individuals with similar characteristics have been found in the same region.
Neves graduated with a degree in Biological Sciences from University of São Paulo in 1981, and did pre-doctorate work at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and UC-Berkeley in 1982. He earned his doctorate in Biological Sciences from University of São Paulo in 1984, and did post-doctorate work at the Center for American Archeology at the University of Illinois in 1985 and at the USP's Department of Anthropology from 1991 to 1992. He also earned a Livre Docência degree (a postdoctorate title earned by submitting a second thesis) in Human Evolution at the USP's Department of Genetics and Biological Evolution in 2000.
Since 1992, Neves has served as an associate professor with the USP's Departament of Biology, where he founded and coordinates the Laboratório de Estudos Evolutivos Humanos (Laboratory for Human Evolution Studies).
See also
- Models of migration to the New WorldModels of migration to the New WorldThere have been several models for the human settlement of the Americas proposed by various academic communities. The question of how, when and why humans first entered the Americas is of intense interest to archaeologists and anthropologists, and has been a subject of heated debate for centuries...
- Pre-Siberian American Aborigines
- Luzia WomanLuzia Womanright|thumb|250px|Reconstruction of her faceLuzia Woman is the name for the skeleton of a woman found in a cave in Brazil, South America. Some archaeologists believe the young woman may have been part of the first wave of immigrants to South America...