Meetings

ISHE organises an International Congress and a Summer Institute, which take place on alternating years

Les Eyzies, France, 2026

Building Bridges: Dialogues between Human Ethology and Archaeology

The XXVIII Biennial Congress will be held in Les Eyzies, France

June 21 – 27, 2026

In cooperation with the Musée National de Préhistoire in Les Eyzies, Dordogne, France.

Les Eyzies, a picturesque village nestled against rock cliffs at the shore of the Vezère, is the cradle of archaeology and prehistory. Research carried out there presented proof that early humans lived in the area, who did not only leave traces of their lithic technology and mobile art, but created the world-famous paintings and petroglyphs deep inside the nearby caves bearing witness of their daring minds and artistic prowess.

The conference will be held in the museum, right under one of the abris where early humans lived and died. Visits to some of the caves and a kayak trip will be organised.

Invited speakers, internationally leading representatives of their field, will cover a range of topics relevant for a better understanding of the eternal question: Who are we?

Human Ethology, the evolutionary biology and biopsychology of human perception, emotion, thought and behaviour, and archaeology, prehistory, palaeoanthropology and palaeogenetics, presenting tangible data from the past, will engage, for the first time in such frame, to present their research and find ways to bridge results and ideas.

We are very much looking forward to welcome you there.

On behalf of the organising committee:

Marian Vanhaeren (marian.vanhaeren@u-bordeaux.fr)
Wulf Schiefenhövel (schiefenh@yahoo.de)
Nathalie Fourment (nathalie.fourment@culture.gouv.fr)
Jaroslava Varella Valentova (jaroslava@usp.br)

Keep an eye on this page for more information

More information will also be shared on our Facebook and Instagram as it becomes available

Call for Abstracts

Presentation Types

Posters will be presented during the dedicated Poster Session. Posters can present either research findings or project proposals.

Oral presentations will be 15 minutes talk including discussion.

Symposia will be scheduled at suitable times in the programme. Symposia provide the opportunity for a focused session on a key area of research interest in human ethology. Format for symposia is flexible and proposals to be considered by the Program Committee should give details of the proposed topic and format, including Chairperson, proposed speakers (who should have confirmed they are willing to participate), and a proposed schedule (e.g. time allocated to individual talks, whether there will be discussions, panel sessions etc.). As an example, your symposium might have one chair with a 10 min introduction, then four speakers who each have a 20 min slot, and an additional 20 mins scheduled for a panel discussion. Symposia should normally last between one and two hours. Note that for symposia proposals, the proposed Chairperson should submit a proposal for the symposium (i.e. an overview of the entire symposium). Individual speakers who will take part in the symposium should also submit their own abstracts individually.

Guidelines for Abstract Submissions
Abstract proposals can be submitted from the link below. You will need to have ready the following information:

Contact details of the presenting author
Full ordered author list and author affiliations
Abstract (250 words)

The Abstract Submission IS CLOSED

After Abstract Submission
Abstracts will be reviewed by the Programme Committee and the presenting author will be contacted as soon as a decision is made. The Programme Committee reserves the right not to include submitted abstracts in the congress program.

Student First Authors
First author (i.e. presenting) students whose contribution has been accepted as oral or poster presentation will be exempted from the registration fee and will be allocated to free (shared) student accommodation and banquet ticket.

Plenary speakers and programme committee

Plenary Speakers

Jean-Michel Geneste, University of Bordeaux:

Cave of Forgotten Dreams (Commented film projection)

Jean-Jacques Hublin, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig

Martin Brüne, Ruhr University, Bochum:

Evolution of human social minds

Dietrich Stout, Emory University:

The Evolution of Human Tool Use and Technology

Angela Friederici, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig:

Language as a human specific cognitive function

Alison S. Brooks, George Washington University

Sibylle Wolf, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen:

Materialising Identity in the Upper Palaeolithic

Polly Wiessner, Arizona State University:

From Stories to Society: The Making of Imagined Communities

Nicholas Conard, University of Tübingen

Programme committee

Jaroslava Varella Valentova (Chair), University of São Paulo, Brazil
Marian Vanhaeren, University of Bordeaux, France
Wulf Schiefenhövel, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Germany
Maryanne Fisher, Saint Mary’s University, Canada
Jan Havlíček, Charles University, Czech Republic
Iris Holzleitner, University of the West of England, UK
Craig Roberts, University of Stirling, UK

Programme (preliminary)

Sunday, 21^st of June

Maison Bordes
13:00-18:00 Registration, Welcome bag, drink & snack

13:00-15:00 Board of Officers Meeting
15:00-17:00 Board of Trustees Meeting

Museum Lecture Room

18:00-20:00 Setting the scene (film projection & introduction)

Film 1: to be determined

Introduced by Jean-Michel Geneste

Film 2: Eipo, Star Mountains, West-Papua, Indonesia: Rebuilding the sacred men’s house (30 min)

Introduced by Wulf Schiefenhövel

Museum Rooftop
20:00-22:00 Get together (buffet dinner)

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Monday, 22^nd of June

Maison Bordes

8:00-9:00 Registration

Museum Lecture Room (1h45min)

9:00-9:15 Welcome & Announcements (15 min)

9:15-10:45 Keynote 1 (1 h 30 min)

What makes us human? Insights from Prehistory & Biopsychology

Jean-Jacques Hublin & Martin Brüne

Museum Rooftop

10:45-11:15 Coffee & Tea (30 min)

Museum Lecture Room (1 h)

11:15-11:30 Presentation 1 (10 minutes + 5 minutes Questions)

11:30-11:45 Presentation 2

11:45-12:00 Presentation 3

12:00-12:15 Presentation 4

Maison Bordes

12:15-14:00    Lunch (1 h 45 min)

Museum Lecture Room (1 h 30 min)

14:00-14:15 Presentation 5

14:15-14:30 Presentation 6

14:30-14:45 Presentation 7

14:45-15:00 Presentation 8

15:00-15:15 Presentation 9

15:15-15:30 Presentation 10

Museum Rooftop

15:30-16:00 Coffee & Tea (30 min)

Museum Lecture Room (1 h 30min)

16:00-17:30 Keynote 2

Fires & caves: centers of human creativity

Pauline (Polly) Wiessner & Nicholas Conard

Dinner at own expense, advanced reservation recommended

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Tuesday, 23^rd of June

Museum Lecture Room (1 h 30 min)

9:00-10:30 Keynote 3

On culture & cognition

Dietrich (Dietz) Stout & Angela Friederici

Museum Rooftop

10:30-11:00 Coffee & Tea (30 min)

Museum Lecture Room (1 h 15 min)

11:00-11:15 Presentation 17

11:15-11:30 Presentation 18

11:30-11:45 Presentation 19

11:45-12:00 Presentation 20

12:00-12:15 Presentation 21

Maison Bordes

12:15-14:00 Lunch (1 h 45 min)

Museum Lecture Room (1 h)

14:00-15:00 Prelude to the Special Exhibit “Gestures of Eternity” at the Prehistory Museum

Funerary rites & grief: human hallmarks

Nathalie Fourment & Bruno Maureille & Wulf Schiefenhövel & Marian Vanhaeren

15:00-15:45 Visit the special exhibit “gestures of eternity

Visit to Lascaux IV

15:45-16:30 Bus Les Eyzies to Lascaux IV

16:30-19:30 Explore Lascaux IV

16:50 Group #1 (max 40 persons)

17:00 Group #2 (max 40 persons)

17:10 Group #3 (max 40 persons)

19:30-20:00 Bus Lascaux IV to Les Eyzies

Maison Bordes

20:00-22:00 BBQ Dinner

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Wednesday, 24^th of June

Pôle d’interprétation de préhistoire Lecture Room (PIP) (1 h)

9:00-9:30 Poster presentations 1-10 (3 minutes/poster = 10 posters in 30 min)

9:30-10:00 Poster presentations 10-20

Pôle d’interprétation de préhistoire Hall
10:00-10:30 Coffee & Tea (30 min)

Pôle d’interprétation de préhistoire Lecture Room (1 h 30 min)

10:30-11:00 Poster presentations 20-30

11:00-11:30 Poster presentations 30-40

11:30-12:00 Poster presentations 40-50

Pôle d’interprétation de préhistoire Hall

12:00-13:00 Lunch (1 h)

13:00-16:00 Poster discussion session

16:00-16:30 Coffee & Tea (30 min)

Museum Lecture Room (1 h 30 min)

16:30-18:00 Keynote 4

Art, Jewels & Beauty

Alison Brooks & Sibylle Wolf

Dinner at own expense, advanced reservation recommended

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Thursday, 25^th of June

Excursion to Rouffignac Cave (4 h)

8:45-9:30 Bus Les Eyzies to Rouffignac Cave

9:30-11:30 Visit Rouffignac Cave

9:40 Group #1 (n=30)

10:00 Group #2 (n=30)

10:20 Group #3 (n=30)

11:30-12:00 Bus Rouffignac Cave to Les Eyzies

Maison Bordes

12:00-14:00 Lunch (2 h)

Museum Lecture Room (1 h 30 min)

14:00-14:15 Presentation 22

14:15-14:30 Presentation 23

14:30-14:45 Presentation 24

14:45-15:00 Presentation 25

15:00-15:15 Presentation 26

15:15-15:30 Presentation 27

Museum Rooftop

15:30-16:00 Coffee & Tea (30 min)

Museum Lecture Room (1 h 30 min)

16:00-16:15 Presentation 28

16:15-16:30 Presentation 29

16:30-16:45 Presentation 30

16:45-17:00 Presentation 31

17:00-17:15 Presentation 32

17:15-17:30 Presentation 33

Abri Pataud (or, if it rains Maison Bordes) (1 h)

18:00-22:00
Visit Abri Pataud with Roland Nespoulet
Flint knapping
Buffet dinner

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Friday, 26^th of June

Museum Lecture Room (1 h 30 min)

9:00-9:15 Presentation 34

9:15-9:30 Presentation 35

9:30-9:45 Presentation 36

9:45-10:00 Presentation 37

10:00-10:15 Presentation 38

10:15-10:30 Presentation 39

Museum Rooftop

10:30-11:00 Coffee & Tea (30 min)

Museum Lecture Room (1 h)

11:00-11:15 Presentation 40

11:15-11:30 Presentation 41

11:30-11:45 Presentation 42

11:45-12:00 Presentation 43

Maison Bordes

12:00-14:00 Lunch (2 h)

Museum Lecture Room (1 h 30 min)

14:00-14:15 Presentation 44

14:15-14:30 Presentation 45

14:30-14:45 Presentation 46

14:45-15:00 Presentation 47

15:00-15:15 Presentation 48

15:15-15:30 Presentation 49

Museum Rooftop

15:30-16:00 Coffee & Tea (30 min)

Lecture Room Museum (2 h)

16:00-18:00 General Assembly Meeting

Rooftop Museum

20:00-24:00 Conference Dinner

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Saturday, 27^th of June

9:00-12:00 Kayak on the Vézère river, Les Eyzies

Registration

Earlybird rates (until 10 May 2026)

ISHE Members USD200

Non-members USD320

Students*/retirees ISHE Members USD100

Students*/retirees Non-Members USD150

Late registration rates (after 10 May 2026)

ISHE Members USD260

Non-members USD390

Students*/retirees ISHE Members USD150

Students*/retirees Non-Members USD210

Banquet ticket USD 60

Refreshment allowance

Student First Authors USD 50

*Students who are presenting as First Author (SFA), and whose presentation has been accepted by the Programme Committee, are eligible for free registration and accommodation

Cancellation policy

Type	Cancellation Received	Refund Amount
Registration	On or before May 10, 2026	Full refund
Registration	May 11 – June 14, 2026	50% of fees paid
Registration	After June 14, 2026	No refund
Banquet Ticket	On or before June 14, 2026	Full refund
Banquet Ticket	After June 14, 2026	No refund

Venue

Les Eyzies, a picturesque village nestled against rock cliffs at the shore of the Vézère, is the cradle of archaeology and prehistory. Research carried out there presented proof that early humans lived in the area, who did not only leave traces of their lithic technology and mobile art, but created the world-famous paintings and petroglyphs deep inside the nearby caves bearing witness of their daring minds and artistic prowess.

The conference will be held in the museum, right under one of the abris where early humans lived and died. Visits to some of the caves, including Lascaux IV, and a kayak trip will be organised.

Key locations:
Maison Bordes
Musee Nationale de Prehistoire

Other locations:
Pôle d’interprétation de préhistoire
Abri Pataud
Lascaux IV Cave
Rouffignac Cave
Les Eyzies bus stop for excursions

Travel

How to get there

From Bordeaux airport (Bordeaux Mérignac Aéroport, BOD)

-Bus: navette 30’Direct (every 30 minutes to Bordeaux central train station) + Train to Les Eyzies via Périgueux (1 change)

-Drive (185 km via toll road, 164 km via national roads)

From Bordeaux central train station (Bordeaux-Saint-Jean)

-Train with 1 change in Périgueux (Bordeaux-Saint-Jean – Périgueux – change – Périgueux – Les Eyzies)

From Périgueux central train station

-Train (c. 30 min)

From Bergerac airport (EGC)

-Bus (Line 333) to Bergerac central train station (Bergerac Gare sncf) + Train to Les Eyzies via Le Buisson-de-Cadouin (1 change)

-Drive (55 km)

From Bergerac central train station

-Train with 1 change in Le Buisson-de-Cadouin

(Bergerac – Le Buisson – change – Le Buisson – Les Eyzies)

From Brive – Souillac airport (BVE)

-Drive (55 km)

From Paris Charles de Gaule airport (CDG)

-TGV INOUI to Bordeaux + Train with change in Périgueux

-Drive (570 km)

From Paris Orly airport

-Bus (Flixbus) to Limoges + Train with change in Périgueux

-Drive (520 km)

From Paris Gare d’Austerlitz train station

-Train with 2 changes (Limoges-Bénédictins and Périgueux)

Accommodation & Eating out

Hotel des Roches
Clos des Rochers
Hotel Cro-Magnon
Hotel Le Passeur
Chambres d’Hôtes chez Maria
Maison Bordes

Social Programme

Check back soon for more information

Code of Conduct

The International Society for Human Ethology (ISHE) holds annual meetings to enable its membership to present and discuss research findings, to share knowledge of techniques and skills, and to build professional networks. At both its Congress and Summer Institutes, ISHE is dedicated to providing a harassment-free event experience for everyone. We do not tolerate harassment of event participants in any form. Event participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled without a refund at the discretion of the ISHE Board of Officers.

ISHE is dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion, and the free expression of ideas. The Society seeks to provide an environment in which diverse participants may learn, network, and enjoy the company of colleagues in an environment of mutual human respect. We recognize a shared responsibility to create and hold that environment for the benefit of all.

Some behaviours, therefore, are specifically prohibited:

• Harassment or intimidation, including but not limited to that based on gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, age, appearance, religion, or other group status.

• Sexual harassment or intimidation, including stalking (physical or virtual) and recurring unwelcome sexual attention or physical contact.

• Sustained disruption or threatening presenters (verbally or physically).

All participants are asked to frame discussions as openly and inclusively as possible and to be aware of how language or images may be perceived by others.

Critical examination of beliefs and viewpoints does not, by itself, constitute hostile conduct or harassment. Similarly, use of sexual imagery or language in the context of a professional discussion might not constitute hostile conduct or harassment if it is necessary to the topic of discussion and presented respectfully.

Enforcement

Participants who are asked to stop any harassing behaviour are expected to comply immediately.

If a participant engages in harassing behaviour, event organizers retain the right to take any actions to keep the event a welcoming environment for all participants. This includes warning the offender or expulsion from the meeting with no refund.

Event organizers may take action to redress anything designed to, or with the clear impact of, disrupting the event or making the environment hostile for any participants.

We expect participants to follow these rules at all event venues and event-related social activities.

Reporting

If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, or if you believe a harassment problem exists, please report it as soon as possible to any member of the ISHE Board of Officers or event organizers.

References

This anti-harassment policy is adapted (with permission) from that drawn up by the Society for the Improvement of Psychological Science (https://improvingpsych.org), using language and concepts adapted from the following sources:

Geek Feminism wiki:

http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Conference_antiharassment/Policy

American Library Association code of conduct:

http://alamw14.ala.org/statement-of-appropriate-conduct