Manuel Domínguez Rodrigo

Manuel Domínguez Rodrigo is a Professor of Prehistory at the University of Alcalá de Henares, Spain, affiliated with the Department of History and Philosophy within the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities. He is also a co-director of the Institute of Evolution in Africa (IDEA) and holds an affiliation with the Department of Anthropology at Rice University, Houston, USA. From 2016–2017, he served as a visiting professor at Harvard University’s Department of Human Evolutionary Biology.

His research focuses on paleoanthropology, archaeology, and prehistory, particularly the study of early hominin behavior, taphonomy, and paleoecology in East Africa. He leads the Olduvai Paleoanthropology and Paleoecology Project (TOPPP), which investigates early stone tool use and site functionality in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. His work integrates field excavations, fossil analysis, and AI-assisted paleolandscape reconstructions to understand human origins.

His recent publications reveal a strong focus on fossil hominin discoveries, such as Paranthropus boisei (OH 80) and early Homo sapiens (EH 06), as well as broader themes in human behavioral evolution, lithic technologies (Oldowan and Acheulian), and paleoenvironmental adaptation. His research spans Africa, especially Tanzania, and contributes significantly to understanding the ecological and behavioral transitions in early human evolution.

Scientific Awards:

• Research Award from the Spanish Geographical Society (2010) – awarded for advancing Spanish scientific contributions in paleontology.

Domínguez Rodrigo has supervised doctoral students, including Enrique Baquedano, and has secured research funding for extensive fieldwork in Africa. He has led long-term projects like TOPPP and co-founded IDEA to support Spanish research in Africa. His work is supported by international collaborations and institutional partnerships across Spain, the U.S., and Tanzania.

He is a key figure in the excavation and analysis of significant paleoanthropological sites, including re-excavations of Mary Leakey’s original Olduvai sites using modern techniques. His team has discovered new anthropogenic sites through AI-assisted methods, advancing both methodology and discovery in the field.