Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology

Groundbreaking discoveries at the Peking Man Site, led by the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP), have significantly advanced our understanding of vertebrate evolution. The IVPP's research spans from early jawed vertebrates to modern humans, with notable achievements including the discovery of Guiyu oneiros, the oldest near-complete osteichthyan fossil, and the reconstruction of Odontochelys semitestacea, which illuminated the formation of turtle shells. Additionally, the institute has made pioneering contributions to paleoanthropology, such as uncovering 47 modern human teeth in Daoxian Cave, providing the earliest evidence of fully modern humans outside Africa. The IVPP's interdisciplinary approach, combining paleontological, phylogenetic, and molecular studies, has placed it at the forefront of global research in vertebrate evolution and human origins.

Xu, X., & Chen, P. (2018). Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology. National Science Review, 5(1), 108–118. https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwx138