The LAST NEANDERTHALS project was officially launched at its inaugural Kick-off Meeting, hosted by the University of Bologna on October 7-8, 2024. The event marked the beginning of an ambitious, multidisciplinary research initiative led by the project’s three Principal Investigators.

 

Opening the meeting, Anna Chiara Fariselli, Head of the Department of Cultural Heritage, warmly welcomed all collaborators and partner institutions, setting an enthusiastic and inspiring tone for the two-day gathering.

Over the course of the event, researchers from across Eurasia including participants from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Albania, Italy, Türkiye, Israel, Azerbaijan, Iran, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, came together to engage deeply with the core aims of the project. The focus was placed on building a shared understanding of the archaeological sites involved, integrating methodologies across regions and establishing a common research framework.

During the meeting, the key research objectives, work packages and critical knowledge gaps within the project were thoroughly introduced and discussed. Dedicated working groups were created to explore specific themes in greater detail, promoting in-depth dialogue on potential research directions, methodological strategies and future collaborative pathways. This structure ensured an open and productive exchange of ideas, aligning the project’s scientific agenda with the diverse expertise of its participants.