Fosillised scales and teeth of the wealden fish (Lepidotes) found inside the ribs of the dinosaur Baryonyx walkeri, Surrey © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London
We are investigating the role of vertebrate evolution in shaping the history of life on Earth, including the growth and development of early humans and modern people.
Vertebrate and anthropology palaeobiology news
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NewsDinosaur fossils reveal how birds got their distinctive walks
New research has revealed how birds changed from rigid raptors to flexible fowl.
20 November 2024 -
Science newsAncient humans feasted on a giant elephant in India over 300,000 years ago
A breakthrough fossil discovery is changing what we know about some of the largest mammals to ever walk the Earth.
15 November 2024 -
Science news‘One of a kind’ fossil from the age of dinosaurs reveals roots of bird intelligence
A remarkable fossil could transform our understanding of how the intelligence of modern birds evolved.
13 November 2024 -
Science newsMolluscs could have been the first animals to venture on land
The story of how animals first set foot out of the water and onto land just became more complex.
7 November 2024
Anthropology research
Our research ranges from the study and dating of early fossil humans such as the Neanderthals to the growth and development of modern people. We carry out fieldwork in the UK, Europe and in countries like Morocco, often in collaboration with archaeologists.
Cutmarks and carcass decay
Investigating if cutmarks can be used to determine the stage of carcass decay in ancient remains.
Pathways to Ancient Britain
Focussing on three chronological periods of human presence in the British Isles, from the earliest occupation through to extinction of the Neanderthals and the emergence of modern humans.
Dinosaur research
Dinosaurs research group
Working on the taxonomy and evolution of dinosaurs, their palaeobiology, the environments in which they are found and on the other animals that shared their world
Fossil fish research
Covering the evolution and development of key vertebrate structure, the systematics, evolution, palaeobiology and palaeobiogeography of North African fishes, and the evolutionary relationships of sharks.
Evolution and development of vertebrate structures
Focussing on the evolution and development of vertebrate teeth and the postcranial skeleton.
Quaternary mammals research
Tackling questions about the past. Why did the woolly mammoth go extinct? What environmental pressures caused dwarfing of elephants on Mediterranean islands in the past? What is the role of animal behaviour in the evolution of their anatomical adaptations?
Evolution and taxonomy of Ice Age deer
Reconstructing the relationships between deer populations that lived in Europe between 2.5 million years ago and the present.
Extinction of large mammals in the Late Quaternary Ice Age
Researching the cause of megafaunal extinction in the last major extinction event.
Evolution and taxonomy of African elephants
There are two forms of African elephant, with different distributions and very marked physical differences.
Dwarfing of fossil mammals on Mediterranean islands
Studying the effect of dramatic environmental changes over the last 800,000 years on the origin and diversification of dwarf elephants and dwarf deer.
The role of behaviour in evolution
Species behaviour has the potential to lead morphological evolution, by placing the organism under novel selection pressures.
Evolution and taxonomy of Asian elephants
Studying the morphology of Borneo elephants, an interesting population that is genetically distinct from all other living elephant populations.
Body size variation in Quaternary mammals
Investigating the causes of variation in mammal body size during the Quaternary period by comparing ice-age mammal species from the past 750,000 years in Britain.
Mammoth evolution as a model for species origins
Using fossil mammoth molars to study how animals adapted to a tropical climate evolved into the woolly mammoth of the late ice age.
Palaeontology collections
Discover the geographic and stratigraphic coverage of our vertebrate, invertebrate and plant fossil collections.
The Conservation Centre
The Museum's conservation staff provide primary care for objects across all Museum science departments.
Core research labs
Our research lab teams are available for complex on-site imaging and analysis of biological and geological samples.