The ENIGMA project had a strong presence at this year’s 94th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Biological Anthropologists (AABA) in Baltimore, Maryland! From March 12–15, 2025, ENIGMA PI Simone Lemmers, along with project colleagues and secondment hosts Prof. Alessia Navaand Prof. Luca Bondiolifrom Rome Sapienza, joined the international gathering of biological anthropologists to present exciting new research.The AABAis the world’s leading professional organization for biological anthropologists, with over 2,200 international members. Dedicated to advancing the study of human and primate evolutionary history, biology, and diversity, the AABA fosters collaboration, inclusion, and public engagement in the field.
At this year’s meeting, the ENIGMA project contributed to three presentations:
Podium Presentations
– Severe trauma in Neanderthals: Using lab-based X-ray computed microtomography to assess trauma, healing, and care provision
Authors: Lemmers, S.A.M., Radovcic, D., de-Boer, H., Lemmers, D., Bondioli, L., Nava, A., Cerrito, P., Dreossi, D., Mancini, L., & Frayer, D.
–Biogeochemistry of deciduous teeth: Exploring Sr and Ba elemental signatures through time-resolved histology-driven biogeochemistry in exfoliated deciduous teeth from contemporary children with diverse dietary habits
Authors: Nava, A., Lugli, F., Galbusera, A., Mianowski, S., Lemmers, S.A.M.., Germano, R., Trocchi, M., Cerrito, P., Coppa, A., Mazur, M., Ottolenghi, L., Bietolini, S., Mahoney, P., Anczkiewicz, R., Müller, W., & Bondioli, L.
Poster Presentation:
– Magnesium metabolism during gestation: Its signature in prenatal dental enamel and maternal dental cementum. Authors: Cerrito, P., Galbusera, A., Natalucci, G., Lemmers, S.A.M., Radovcic, D., Coppa, A., Higgins, O., Magri, S., Anczkiewicz, R., Lugli, F., Müller, W., Bondioli, L., & Nava, A.
The presentations were well received, highlighting how cutting-edge techniques such as X-ray microtomography and histology-driven biogeochemistry contribute to our understanding of human and hominin growth, development, and health.
Prof Nava and Dr Lemmers on their way to the Conference Venue
During conferences, it’s always great to see so many familiar faces – including a little blast-from the past- bumping into Dr Fire Kovarovic from our PhD-days at Durham University, UK!
When talking about a topic on Biological Anthropology, Evolutionairy studies, Trauma assessment and advanced imaging techniques, sound research can only be done as a team. Enigma is extremely thankful to all the collaborators involved!
Simone taking the stage of one of the Grand Ballroom sub-rooms in a session titled: Paleoanthropology: Later Hominin Evolution. One of the other eye-catching min-symposia concerned the one titled ‘Little teeth, big picture: contributions of deciduous dentitions across biological anthropology). Given our interest in ontogeny, dental development and early life stress exposure, this session was of high relevance – and big congrats to Prof Nava and Prof Bondioli for their interesting contributions here.
