人类骨组织特征研究

为解决杀人毁尸案中骨骼残片的法医鉴定问题,对人类不同部位的骨骼进行组织学研究,为比较骨骼残片是否为人类骨骼提供科学基础。本研究提取的人类骨骼有颅骨、四肢长骨。将提取的骨片制成骨组织片,在显微镜下观察,并将观察结果输入计算机进行分析。通过对人类不同部位骨骼的组织学特征研究,描述了人类骨组织的板层结构、骨单位及骨小管的形态。本研究结果在法医学、人类学及考古学等领域有一定的应用价值。     

蔚县盆地吉家庄旧石器遗址动物骨骼的埋藏学分析

泥河湾盆地南部蔚县盆地区域的河湖相地层发育良好,并保存有丰富的考古材料与人类活动信息,在研究我国北方中更新世人类演化与行为方面有重要的价值。本文对蔚县盆地吉家庄遗址群4个地点出土的动物遗存进行了初步埋藏学观察与研究。结果显示,A与D地点的动物骨骼数量较少,反映的埋藏信息有限,不作为本文主要讨论对象;E地点出土的部分动物骨骼带有异地埋藏的特点,人类行为信息可能受到干扰,变得模糊;B地点动物化石接近原地埋藏,中更新世古人类应该是该地点动物资源的初级利用者与动物骨骼富集的主要动因。分析表明,B地点古人类于原地对大中型食草动物进行了肢解、割肉与敲骨取髓等多种活动,随后食肉动物又利用了这些动物骨骼的剩余营养成分,但动物骨骼数量与组成说明古人类在此地点的生存活动是短暂且有限的。     

华南地区史前人类骨骼的生物力学特征

本文的主要目的是了解华南地区史前时期人类在行为活动上的历时性变化,希望在此基础上认识该地区史前人类文化行为模式和生业方式变迁问题。应用骨骼生物力学方法,对顶蛳山遗址、鲤鱼墩遗址、冲塘遗址、江边遗址及何村遗址古人类肢骨的相关骨骼生物力学特征进行了比较,并在更广泛的时空范围内和生业方式下进行了更多人群的对比。研究结果表明,华南地区史前时期在距今8000-4000年的时期内,不同考古学文化人群在活动方式上较为相似。虽然多数华南史前时期人群之间在骨骼的抗压和抗拉伸力以及抗扭转力方面存在显著性差异,但他们都表现出较高的活动性,均未显示出低水平行为活动的现象。这些人群在诸多骨骼生物力学特征上与已知的狩猎—采集型人群的最为相似,与农业定居型人群的差异显著。本文认为上述华南史前时期人群在行为活动上更接近狩猎-采集型。     

鲤鱼墩遗址史前人类行为模式的骨骼生物力学分析

近年来,许多研究都发现人类活动水平与其长骨截面有显著的相关性。地处雷州半岛的鲤鱼墩遗址史前人类被认为营以捕捞采集为主,辅以狩猎的综合经济。基于骨骼生物力学的方法,本文对鲤鱼墩遗址史前人类长骨中部总横截面形态、骨骼的抗压、抗扭转、抗弯曲能力以及左右侧对称性进行了比较和分析,在此基础上与其他不同时期人群进行对比,进而对该人群的行为模式和生业方式进行了探讨。研究结果表明,鲤鱼墩遗址史前人类在骨骼生物力学参数分布上与石器时代晚期南非人和原史安达曼岛人等已知的渔猎-采集型人群相类似。本研究结果支持目前考古学研究所认为的其社会经济是渔猎-采集型的结论。     

X射线衍射技术在烧骨实验研究中的初步应用

烧骨作为考古遗址中较为常见的一类特征遗物,对研究古人类用火行为有着重要的意义。过往研究表明,骨骼在加热过程中,其内部晶体会根据加热程度的不同产生不同的变化。骨骼在加热前的状态,能够在一定程度上反映古人类对骨骼进行热处理的动机与目的。为了了解骨骼在焚烧前的初始状态是否会对其内部晶体产生不同的影响,本研究利用56件现生羊骨进行了烧骨实验。实验设置了带肉骨、剔肉骨和干骨三种不同初始状态的骨骼,并在前人的研究基础上进一步细化了焚烧温度和时间参数。焚烧完成后,利用X射线衍射技术对所有样品进行了分析并观察其衍射图的差异。实验结果显示,骨骼有机质含量的多少,骨骼内部元素的不同,在一定的温度和时间条件下,会对骨骼内晶体的形成产生不同的影响。文章最后探讨了这种差异在考古研究中运用的可能性。     

旧石器技术研究法之应用——以观音洞石核为例

中国旧石器材料数量众多,表现出一定的地域特色,在世界旧石器考古学领域占有重要地位.研究表明,类型学在解读与提取石器所包含的人类技术行为信息方面的能力有较大的局限性,而且中国旧石器时代的一些石制品的形态和组合与欧洲和近东常常难以直接对比,对器物的分类定名也存在交流上的困难.由法国学者开创发展起来的史前石器技术研究理论和方法在分析形态特征的同时,通过关注支配石器工业生产体系的技术机制和逻辑规则,对深入细致地探讨史前人类的认知特征和技术行为可以发挥重要作用,也能为石器工业甚至跨地域文化之间的比较提供基础.本文对贵州观音洞遗址的石核标本为例进行了技术分析,说明其在研究中国旧石器材料上的可行性,特别是信息提取上的优势.     

宁夏鸽子山遗址第10地点出土动物骨骼的埋藏学初步观察

宁夏鸽子山遗址第10地点(QG10)位于青铜峡市西北约20km的贺兰山南麓。2014-2017年,中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所与宁夏文物考古研究所联合组队对该遗址进行了发掘,出土大量动物化石、近万件石制品以及装饰品、骨制品、结构性火塘等。本项研究基于遗址第4层出土动物化石的埋藏学初步观察认为:晚更新世末期的古人类是遗址中动物骨骼的富集者和改造者;QG10的狩猎-采集人群采取狩猎而非主动食腐的方式获取了遗址附近的大中型食草类动物,并将其完整搬运至遗址内进行后续的肢解、食肉与敲骨取髓等营养性处理过程。相对于上述动物种类而言,遗址内的小型动物则是在其营养物质之外,古人类还利用了它们的骨骼材料以制作器型规整的骨角类工具。     

树鼩的骨元和骨细胞穴微观结构超微影像的定性比较

近年来,由于树鼩与灵长类动物的亲缘关系,它们引起了人类发展和疾病研究的兴趣。在这项对树鼩,鼠,狗,狒狒和人类的骨骼超微形态的比较研究中,我们定性分析了骨骼的微观结构和形态,以评估树鼩对人类的亲近程度。在3只成年雄性树鼩 (滇西亚种) (Tupaia belangeri chinensis）的股骨中,使用荧光素异硫氰酸盐样品制备和染色共聚焦成像研究了皮质骨的骨元结构,并使用酸蚀刻SEM观察了骨细胞穴的形态。总体而言,树鼩中骨样形成物的密度和结构以及骨细胞穴的形态更像鼠, 与人类,狗和狒狒都明显不同。这些发现表明,尽管树鼩在系统发育上比鼠更接近人类,但它们的骨骼超微形态仍与鼠接近。这是除狗和狒狒之外,第一次对树鼩的骨元和骨细胞穴进行超微影像的研究。这个比较研究的结果丰富了我们对早期灵长类动物骨骼发育,适应性和进化的理解。未来有必要进行进一步的定量比较研究来表征树鼩骨骼的微观形态。     

Smad4介导转化生长因子-β信号调节骨骼发育和稳态维持的功能

转化生长因子-β（TGF-β）是一个包括数十种TGF-βs、骨形态发生蛋白（BMPs）等配体在内的生长因子超家族,在哺乳动物整体和组织器官发育过程中具有广泛而重要的功能。Smad4是细胞内TGF-β信号通路的核心信号转导分子。为了深入研究Smad4介导的TGF-β信号在骨骼发育过程中的生理功能,我们利用转基因技术研制了软骨细胞、肥大型软骨细胞和成骨细胞分别特异性表达Cre重组酶的转基因小鼠,利用条件基因敲除技术研制了不同类型骨骼细胞Smad4基因敲除的小鼠模型。表型分析结果揭示了Smad4在软骨细胞增殖和分化、骨重塑以及稳态维持过程中的功能以及相关的分子机制,为理解人类相关骨骼疾病的发生及其机理提供了新的线索。     

生物力学测试中小梁骨试件的保存和制备方法

骨骼在平时发挥的是支撑和运动作用,在受到撞击后保护脏器的同时自身也会断裂、受损,这都是骨与力之间相互作用产生的结果。如果可以知道骨的力学属性,并带入有限元模型计算,就可以个体化地预测其生活中的各种动作是否会导致急慢性创伤、协助判断暴力事件(如交通事故、坠落等)对其骨骼造成的破坏、在术前对骨骼质量给予指导性的评估[1]等。但是人类的骨骼看似简单,却千变万化,想要确切了解其各项属性的内在联系很困难。骨骼并不是几种材料的简单堆积,如骨骼整体的强度要大于其所有部位累计的强度[2]就是一个证明。一开始,骨的测试方法遵循普通材料的测试方法,随着研究的深入,对于骨的各个部位、各个类型的属性又有了很多新的探索。寻求最佳的试件保存、制作方法是后期测试获得成功的前提,试件保存的温度、水合状态、取材方向、形状和大小都会引起误差,多因素干扰也使分析结果变得更加困难。也正是因为如此,不同学者测得的数据差异往往比较明显。本研究旨在提炼、归纳一些通用、成熟、合理的方法,为后来的研究者在实验技术方面提供参考,让研究结果更有比较意义。     

Deciphering archaeological palimpsests with bone micro-fragments from the Lower Magdalenian of El Mirón cave (Cantabria,Spain)

Abstract

Modern excavation techniques aim accurately to recover extant archaeological data. Usually bone micro-fragments are gathered as a result, however, during archaeological analysis these remains are often set apart as indeterminate bones and generally do not contribute to the interpretation of the deposits. How to decipher archaeological palimpsests using these small bone fragments is the aim of this paper. El Mirón Cave, located in northern Iberia, contains a very rich Cantabrian Lower Magdalenian deposit (17–15 uncal ka BP) with high densities of faunal remains and artefacts. Here, we present zooarchaeological, taphonomic and spatial distribution analyses of macromammal finds, including those small bone fragments, accumulated during a series of intensive and repeated human occupations found in the outer vestibule excavation area. Our results show that a broad spectrum of activities was performed there, including meat, marrow and grease processing and waste abandonment. We propose that bone micro-fragments must be considered when addressing human subsistence reconstructions from animal remains, as they represent the leftovers of the chaîne opératoire of animal carcass exploitation. The archaeological implications of their inclusion are extremely valuable, especially when deciphering palimpsests. A multidisciplinary approach to study these small animal remains provides information that otherwise would be missed.     

马鞍山遗址出土碎骨表面痕迹的分析

本文对马鞍山遗址 (1990年度) 出土的一千余件碎骨,借鉴中外学者的研究方法,就其表面痕迹作了尝试性的分析。结果发现,尽管痕迹特征标示出有风化、腐蚀、重力等自然营力的作用,以及动物啃咬等后期侵扰,但主要的特征——破碎状况尤其是管状骨骼的破碎程度和人工痕迹的特征——显示出,这些碎骨的产生主要是由于遗址占有者的活动——敲骨吸髓和制作骨制品造成的。由此,进而对遗址占有者的某些行为和遗址形成过程作了探讨。通过碎骨表面痕迹的分析,为该遗址的进一步综合研究提供了有助的资料和证据。     

峙峪遗址碎骨的研究

本文对峙峪遗址出土的近七百件碎骨进行了研究,结果表明这些碎骨主要是由于人工打击和动物啃咬造成的。在有人工打击痕迹的碎骨中,存在着打制骨器。在个别碎骨的局部表面有磨光的现象,推测是人类使用的结果。     

Interfacial Strength of Cement Lines in Human Cortical Bone

In human cortical bone, cement lines (or reversal lines) separate osteons from the interstitial bone tissue, which consists of remnants of primary lamellar bone or fragments of remodeled osteons. There have been experimental evidences of the cement line involvement in the failure process of bone such as fatigue and damage. However, there are almost no experimental data on interfacial properties of cement lines in human cortical bone. The objective of this study is to design and assemble a precision and computer controlled osteon pushout microtesting system, and to experimentally determine the interfacial strength of cement lines in human cortical bone by performing osteon pushout tests. Thirty specimens were prepared from humeral diaphyses of four human subjects. Twenty specimens were tested under the condition of a small hole in the supporting plate, in which the cement line debonding occurred. The cement line interfacial strength ranged from 5.38 MPa to 10.85 MPa with an average of 7.31±1.73 MPa. On the other hand, ten specimens were tested under the condition of a large hole in the supporting plate, in which the shear failure inside osteons was observed. The specimens tested under the condition of the large hole resulted in an average shear strength of 73.71±15.06 MPa, ranging from 45.97 MPa to 93.74 MPa. Therefore, our results suggest that the cement line interface between osteon and interstitial bone tissue is weaker than that between bone tissue lamellae.     

Long-Term Resilience of Late Holocene Coastal Subsistence System in Southeastern South America

Isotopic and molecular analysis on human, fauna and pottery remains can provide valuable new insights into the diets and subsistence practices of prehistoric populations. These are crucial to elucidate the resilience of social-ecological systems to cultural and environmental change. Bulk collagen carbon and nitrogen isotopic analysis of 82 human individuals from mid to late Holocene Brazilian archaeological sites (∼6,700 to ∼1,000 cal BP) reveal an adequate protein incorporation and, on the coast, the continuation in subsistence strategies based on the exploitation of aquatic resources despite the introduction of pottery and domesticated plant foods. These results are supported by carbon isotope analysis of single amino acid extracted from bone collagen. Chemical and isotopic analysis also shows that pottery technology was used to process marine foods and therefore assimilated into the existing subsistence strategy. Our multidisciplinary results demonstrate the resilient character of the coastal economy to cultural change during the late Holocene in southern Brazil.     

The earliest evidence for the use of human bone as a tool

We report on the analysis of three human cranial fragments from a Mousterian context at the site of La Quina (France), which show anthropogenic surface modifications. Macroscopic and microscopic analyses, including SEM observation, demonstrate that the modifications visible on one of these fragments are similar to those produced on bone fragments used experimentally to retouch flakes. The microscopic analysis also identified ancient scraping marks, possibly resulting from the cleaning of the skull prior to its breakage and utilisation of a resulting fragment as a tool. The traces of utilisation and the dimensions of this object are compared to those on a sample of 67 bone retouchers found in the same excavation area and layer. Results show that the tool size, as well as the dimensions and location of the utilised area, fall well within the range of variation observed on faunal shaft fragments from La Quina that were used as retouchers. This skull fragment represents the earliest known use of human bone as a raw material and the first reported use of human bone for this purpose by hominins other than modern humans. The two other skull fragments, which probably come from the same individual, also bear anthropogenic surface modifications in the form of percussion, cut, and scraping marks. The deliberate versus unintentional hypotheses for the unusual choice of the bone are presented in light of contextual information, modifications identified on the two skull fragments not used as tools, and data on bone retouchers from the same layer, the same site, and other Mousterian sites.     

Identification of novel proteolytic forms of osteocalcin in human urine

In this study, we report the isolation and characterization of osteocalcin in human urine using mass spectrometry and N-terminal sequencing. Multiple proteolytic forms of osteocalcin were found, which consisted of 16-27 residues from the middle region of the molecule. Several fragments had residue Gly7 at the N-terminus and the most predominant was fragment 7-31. Additional fragments starting from residue Asp14 were detected in the samples of children and young adults. Immunochemical detection of urine osteocalcin fragments had a statistically significant negative correlation to bone mineral density in evaluation of urine samples from 75-year-old women. Thus, the measurement of osteocalcin fragments in urine may have potential applications in diagnostics related to disorders of bone metabolism.     

老龙洞史前遗址初步研究

本文记述了老龙洞史前遗址研究初步成果．在对石、骨、角制品的一般性质论述基础上,指出这一组合具有自身的一些特点,并有着文化上的广泛联系;依遗物和哺乳动物化石对其年代也作了初步讨论。初步研究结果表明,它是中国西南地区,特别是云南近年来发现的一处重要的包括旧石器时代晚期文化层在内的史前洞穴遗址,为研究中国南方旧石器时代晚期文化类型的多样性提供了一个重要的地点和一批有意义的文化遗物。