Human evolution is a “hot” research topic which fascinates both the media and the general public. The opening of the New gallery of Man and the Evolution of Man in RBINS in May 2015 showed the enormous interest that both scholars and families have for new and original presentations on this topic. Since the beginning of the 19th Century, Belgium has played an important role in the history of Palaeoanthropology. The jaw of la Naulette and the two skeletons from Spy housed by RBINS are masterpieces of Human Evolution History. A recent accurate radiocarbon dating showed that the fossils from Spy are currently the most recent Neanderthals that have been found1**. The analysis of the dental calculus of the Spy fossils and new analysis of the stable isotopes of bone collagen further shows that these last Neanderthals were not only carnivorous, as was expected, but that a vegetarian intake was also an important part of their diet2. More recently, international studies have examined the Neandertals and Anatomically Modern Human (AMH) remains from the Goyet Caves3. The exceptional preservation of the ancient DNA of these fossils enabled complete genomes to be built for both populations, which is very unique4,5. Several digitisation programs have also produced an extensive collection of all the 3D models of Neandertal and Palaeolithic AMH fossils which have been discovered in Belgium and this has opened up new fields for scientific studies.
This project aims to utilise the existing digital collection of over 300 Neandertal and AMH (anatomically modern human) fossils which are housed at RBINS. In 2004, there was a reassessment of the human and faunal material from the Spy cave conducted by RBINS (Spy Cave, Belspo Action 1)6. This reassessment attributed many more fossil remains to the larger of the two skeletons (Spy II) which became one of the most complete Neandertal skeletons available. Based on this new study, a collaboration between ULB and RBINS (Reconstruction of Neandertal locomotion, Belspo Action 2) saw the reconstruction of the Spy II Neandertal based on the available digitised fossils using a state of the art musculoskeletal software developed at ULB called lhpFusionBox7. This project was undertaken in collaboration with leading Neandertal international experts from 15 different institutions in 6 different countries.
Project & Network: This project aims to evaluate how to make accessible the existing digital collection of over 300 Neandertal and human specimens which are housed at RBINS and to showcase the reconstructed Spy II Neandertal to highlight Belgian scientific and cultural heritage as well the current state of the art research in Palaeoanthropology. We have identified several different audiences and techniques for which we need methodological research and/or technical adaptations:
a) Digital study: University students & Scholars - Digital data and models are more and more important in the field of (Palaeo)anthropology and forensic science. The use of digital models allows us to make new studies on the morphology of the Human remains without direct physical manipulation. This approach enables a better curation of the original specimens and improves their scientific valorisation. Nevertheless there is still a gap between the world of virtual anthropology and the world of “classical” physical anthropology. The comparison between new virtual data and the enormous amount of published data in the field is also not so easy. This is mainly due to the use of different tools which are not able to easily measure the same things in both worlds. LhpFusionBox was recently adapted for palaeoanthropological analysis and also used for measurements of digital objects, reconstruction (including the Spy II Neandertal bones) and biomechanical analysis of fossil hominids. The new development of the lhpFusionBox software in this project will allow measurements to be taken more easily and also improve the biomechanical analysis and morphological comparison of different specimens. The current software interface will also be altered to increase its user friendliness. The software is based on open source technologies and is freely available to use with a research agreement between the ULB and prospective researchers.
b) Virtual casting: Schools and Museums - Human evolution is a key topic in primary and secondary school programs. Attractive pedagogical virtual and physical media are essential to provide up-to date information and materials to teachers. The project seeks to create a virtual repository of ed 3D models of the unique RBINS Neandertal and AMH digitised fossils and the individual bones of the reconstructed Spy II Neandertal so that 3D non-contact moulds can easily be made by schools and other museums using low cost 3D printers. 3D printing can also replace the classical casting system which poses potential problems for the original fossils. Direct 3D printing also avoids another problem with classical casting in that reproductions can be 2% smaller than the original. The virtual non-contact casting method (avoiding damage to original bones) will be evaluated and used with fossils (available from RBINS) and modern human bones (from ULB). A ion of representative 3D models will then be freely available for museum related or educational purposes. The non-contact 3D digitisation of fragile specimens is also an important opportunity for the curation and the restoration of federal heritage objects. It allows you to follow the evolution of the object through time and assist with prototyping for testing several restoration options without damage to the original fossil.
c) Electronic visitors: Schools and Web visitors - Neandertals are often portrayed in the public domain as cavemen who are stupid, brutish and more “ape like” than modern humans. The website developed in the framework of this project will seek to redress this balance whilst also highlighting the state of the art research that is now being done by researchers in Belgium. The project will evaluate how 3D and immersive 3D technologies can be used in order to offer an interactive 3D experience to visitors. Preliminary tests demonstrate that Sketchfab is a very good candidate to offer impressive real time 3D rendering and animation. This 3D platform is already used by RBINS, RMAH and RMCA for the hosting and the display of the 3D models produced by the federal DIGIT- 03 program. However, more research has to be done to fully examine and utilise the full potential of the Sketchfab platform (including virtual environments and animations) and to achieve the perfect integration with the 3D technologies in the FSI websites.

d) Gaming: Educational Games for children and serious gaming for medical patients
In this project, we will use the reconstructed Spy II skeleton (Fig. 1) and body (Fig. 2) to create an avatar based on real scientific evidence of Neandertals. The avatar will be used for several purposes: to create games for educational purposes for school children taking part in the animations by ADIA, for serious gaming for medical patients and for use in animations on the Neandertal website which will be created in (c). ADIA recently developed a Human Evolution animation for teenagers (17-18 years old) which involved the use of tablets and this was very successful. The use of innovative digitised media makes the experience fun and educational at the same time and the use of developed games based on the reconstructed Spy II skeleton will provide an interactive link with the reconstructed skeleton which is part of the exhibition in the Gallery of Human Evolution. VUB and ULB have previously collaborated in two different projects to produce ‘serious gaming’ applications8. Serious games are today used for the treatment of movement disorders and help to motivate patients to do their exercises. A key element in physical rehabilitation is motivation to continue to perform physical rehabilitation exercises. The public interest for human ancestors and evolution will help provide the extra motivation which is essential for the success of long term physical rehabilitation process.

Runtime: 2017 - 2019