Early Siberians from Lake Baikal and Alaskan population affinities

Among the materials excavated by the 1975 joint USSR–USA team in Siberia are two burials from Shaman's Cape, Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal. One is a middle-aged male of the Serovo culture, 6,000 B.C. , and the other is a young male of the Glaskovo culture of 2,000 B.C. This later burial displays an unusual pathology affecting the nose and post-cranial regions of the pelvic girdle and lower limbs. Osteon analysis confirms the determination of age at death and illustrates the difference between normal and pathological bone. Numerous cultural materials were associated with these burials, including harpoon heads, knives, a compound fishhook and a pestle with the Serovo man, and nephrite ornaments with the Glaskovo man. The skulls, though far apart in time, are pronouncedly Mongoloid and alike in their low cranial vaults. A low, broad and inclined ascending ramus resembles Chukchi, Eskimos and Aleuts. These two specimens document the Mongoloid character of the early inhabitants of Lake Baikal.     

The Early Middle Ages necropolis of Collecchio (Parma). Human remains

The present study examines the skeletal remains found in the necropolis of Collecchio (Parma) and belonging to the Early Middle Ages (VII century A.D.). The buried population is represented by at least 154 individuals: 64 infants, 13 youths, and 77 adults (36 males, 25 females). It should be noted the high infant mortality (42%). The mean age at death of the inhumated in Collecchio is about 24.5 years. the following characteristics were observed: stenomorphic and medium-low skulls with low and wide forehead, very prominent supraorbital ridges, glabella and occiput. As regards the post-cranial skeleton the characteristics are the following: eurybraky, euroleny, eurymery and eurycnemy. The stature is medium-tall for males and tall for females. According to such characteristics it is also possible to recognize in Collecchio a prevalence of subjects referable to the Nordic type, and to a lesser degree, to the Mediterranian and Alpine type. The inhumated in Collecchio's necropolis partially differentiate from the autochthonous Early Middle Ages italian background, and they are generally, but not totally, close to the characteristics of the original central European populations, as the Lombards. The necropolis of Collecchio is considered as the burial area of a population where union between lombards and autochthons was already being carried out.     

Practising methods of age determination. Comments on methods combining multiple age indicators

For some time, trends in age determination of skeletons have tended to shift from methods using single age indicators to methods combining multiple age indicators. Evidently the latter are expected to offer more balanced age assessments. If one decides to apply a method using multiple age indicators, a choice can be made between two «current» methods, both based on non-metrical age indicators: the socalled Complex Method of Acsádi and Nemeskéri, statistically elaborated by Sjøvold (WEA, 1980), and the so-called Multifactorial Method of Lovejoy et al., 1985a. Comments are given on practical applicability and supposed confidence.     

The fin spine of a new holocephalan from the lower jurassic of Lyme Regis,Dorset, England

A fin spine previously described as ‘Myriacanthus paradoxus’ Agassiz from the Lower Lias (Lower Jurassic) of Lyme Regis, is allocated to the new genus and species Recurvacanthus uniserialis. The spine is unusual in possessing a single median row of four large, hook-like, downturned denticles on the distal part of the posterior wall. It is concluded that the unique specimen should be classified with the myriacanthoid chimaeriform holocephalans since it possesses a tubercular ornament on the lateral walls.     

Iberomaurusian funerary behaviour: evidence from Grotte des Pigeons, Taforalt, Morocco

Grotte des Pigeons at Taforalt, north-east Morocco, is well known for a large assemblage of Iberomaurusian (Epipalaeolithic) skeletons, possibly representing the earliest and most extensively used prehistoric cemetery in North Africa. New archaeological excavations carried out in 2005 and 2006 revealed further human remains in a largely undisturbed burial area in an alcove at the back of the cave. This discovery provides the first opportunity to report on Iberomaurusian human mortuary activity at this site. Reported here are a closely spaced and inter-cutting series of four burials. These contained the remains of four adults, of which three were buried in a seated or slightly reclining position facing towards the cave entrance and one was buried in a highly flexed position on its left side. The distribution of articulated and disarticulated bones suggested intensive use of the area, with earlier burials disturbed or truncated by subsequent burials, and displaced skeletal elements deliberately or unwittingly incorporated into later depositions. Through this process, parts of a single skeleton were redistributed among several discrete graves and within the surrounding deposit. Some aspects of the Iberomaurusian funerary tradition that are evident from the human remains excavated in the 1950s are absent in the newly excavated adult burials, suggesting a possible elaboration of funerary activity over time.     

口服补钙对甘肃鼢鼠钙磷代谢的影响

利用原子吸收分光光度计、可见光分光光度计、全自动生化分析仪测定了2007年4～5月捕获的甘肃鼢鼠(Myospalax cansus)补钙组(n=7)和对照组(n=7)股骨钙、磷含量,血浆钙、磷浓度,分析口服补钙对甘肃鼢鼠钙、磷代谢的影响,初步探讨甘肃鼢鼠钙、磷吸收机制。结果表明,甘肃鼢鼠补钙后股骨钙、磷含量明显增加(P0.05),血浆钙、磷浓度无明显变化(P0.05),股骨钙、磷含量与钙、磷摄入总量显著正相关(P0.01),呈不饱和趋势,股骨钙、磷含量与血浆钙、磷浓度呈不显著负相关(P0.05)。说明甘肃鼢鼠骨骼对钙、磷有较高储留能力,推测甘肃鼢鼠对钙、磷的吸收可能是非依赖VD3的被动吸收途径。     

Developmental biology meets materials science: Morphogenesis of biomineralized structures

Biomineralization is the process by which metazoa form hard minerals for support, defense, and feeding. The minerals so formed, e.g., teeth, bones, shells, carapaces, and spicules, are of considerable interest to chemists and materials scientists. The cell biology underlying biomineralization is not well understood. The study of the formation of mineralized structures in developing organisms offers opportunities for understanding some intriguing aspects of cell and developmental biology. Five examples of biomineralization are presented: (1) the formation of siliceous spicules and frustules in sponges and diatoms, respectively; (2) the structure of skeletal spicules composed of amorphous calcium carbonate in some tunicates; (3) the secretion of the prism and nacre of some molluscan shells; (4) the development of skeletal spicules of sea urchin embryos; and (5) the formation of enamel of vertebrate teeth. Some speculations on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that support biomineralization, and their evolutionary origins, are discussed.     

Dating and rating of Harris's lines

Well-preserved skeletons of 50 Dutch whalers from the 17th and 18th centuries, buried on the island of Zeeusche Uytkyck , were excavated during the Spitsbergen Expedition 1980. In order to estimate the biological age of these skeletons at the time that Harris's lines were formed, a method which was developed from routine X-ray data on tibial growth was tested. Formation ages of diaphyseal lines and strong metaphyseal lines appear to correspond well with hypoplastic enamel deformations within the same individuals. Because of the involvement of both the bone and tooth developmental systems, and of the resistance of these lines to bone remodeling, it can be assumed that they generally are the result of serious health insults.     

A radiographic approach to childhood illness in precolumbian inhabitants of southern Peru

A total of 108 individuals from six different cultures found in the Department of Ica, Peru, were studied for the presence of Harris's Lines. Such lines or “bone scars” are formed due to cessation of bone growth due to episodes of starvation or illness and possibly other causes. These individuals covered a span of time of nearly 2,600 years. The individuals from mountain cultures had fewer lines and possibly a healthier childhood than those from coastal cultures. The modern population surveyed in this series still show a pattern of Harris's Lines similar to people from the Inca culture of 450 years ago.