The Shanidar 3 Neandertal

The Shanidar 3 Neandertal partial skeleton preserves four teeth, major portions of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, sacrum, ribs, clavicles, scapulae, humeri, hand bones, innominate bones, and foot bones, plus fragments of the ulnae, radii, femora, tibiae, and fibulae. Their morphology aligns Shanidar 3 closely with the other Shanidar Neandertals and the European and Near Eastern Neandertals. This is apparent especially in the dentition, scapulae, hand bones, and pubic bones.     

Neandertal radial tuberosity orientation

Examination of adult and immature Neandertal radii demonstrates that the medial versus anterior orientations of their radial tuberosities fall within recent human ranges of variation, but on the average their radial tuberosities are significantly more medially, as opposed to anteromedially, oriented. This more posterior positioning of their radial tuberosities implies a maintenance of an effective moment arm for M. biceps brachii through the full range of supination, an interpretation which fits with the hypertrophy of and increased moment arms for their forearm pronator muscles. It is an additional indication of the muscular hypertrophy evident elsewhere in Neandertal upper limbs.     

A reconsideration of the Archi 1 Neandertal mandible

A reassessment of the early last glacial immature Neandertal mandibular corpus from Archi indicates a series of features in which it closely resembles other pre-adolescent Neandertal mandibles and contrasts with those of similarly aged recent humans. These are in the context of a re-aging of the specimen to ca. 3 years on the basis of deciduous dental eruption and attrition and permanent dental calcification. The Archi 1 mandible resembles other immature Neandertals in having a “retreating” symphyseal profile in the context of moderate development of mental trigone features. It is relatively robust in the development of lateral and basilar corpus features and some increased symphyseal and lateral corpus thickness. And it exhibits, along with other Middle Paleolithic immature mandibles, anteriorly wide dental arcades, probably due to large developing anterior permanent tooth crowns.     

Lucy's length: stature reconstruction in Australopithecus afarensis (A.L.288-1) with implications for other small-bodied hominids

New stature estimates are provided for A.L.288-1 (Australopithecus afarensis) based on (1) the relationship between femur length and stature in separate samples of human pygmies and pygmy chimpanzees and (2) model II regression alternatives to standard least-squares methods. Estimates from the two samples are very similar and converge on a value of approximately 3'6" for "Lucy." These results are compared to prior estimates and extended to other small-bodied hominids such as STS-14 and O.H.62. A new foot-to-stature ratio is also estimated for A.L.288-1, and its potential biomechanical significance for gait is evaluated in comparison to other groups.     

Pathology and the posture of the La Chapelle-aux-Saints Neandertal

The depiction of the Neandertals as incompletely erect was based primarily on Boule's (1911, 1912a, 1913) analysis of the La Chapelle-aux-Saints 1 partial skeleton. The inaccurate aspects of Boule's postural reconstruction were corrected during the 1950s. However, it has come to be believed, following Straus and Cave (1957), that Boule's errors of reconstruction were due to the diseased condition of the La Chapelle-aux-Saints 1 remains, rather than to Boule's misinterpretation of morphology. The abnormalities on the La Chapelle-aux-Saints 1 postcranium include: lower cervical, upper thoracic, and lower thoracic intervertebral degenerative joint disease (DJD), a distal fracture of a mid-thoracic rib, extensive DJD of the left hip, DJD of the right fifth proximal interphalangeal articulation, bilateral humeral head eburnation, and minor exostosis formation on the right humerus, ulna, and radius. These were associated with extensive alveolar inflammation including apical abscesses and antemortem tooth loss, some temporomandibular DJD, bilateral auditory exostoses, and minimal occipital condyle DJD. None of these abnormalities significantly affected Boule's Neandertal postural reconstruction, and a review of his analysis indicates that early twentieth century interpretations of skeletal morphology (primarily of the cranium, cervical vertebrae, lumbar and sacral vertebrae, proximal femora and tibiae, posterior tarsals, and hallucial tarsometatarsal joint), combined with Boule's evolutionary preconceptions, were responsible for his mistaken view of Neandertal posture.     

Lumbar anomalies in the Shanidar 3 Neandertal

Recent examination of the Shanidar 3 remains revealed the presence of anomalous bilateral arthroses in the lumbar region. This paper describes this developmental anomaly, as well as several degenerative changes and offers potential etiologies.The Shanidar 3 remains represent an adult male Neandertal, approximately 35–50 years of age, dating to the Last Glacial. Although the partial skeleton is fragmentary, preserved elements include an almost complete set of ribs, portions of all thoracic vertebrae, all lumbar vertebrae, and the sacrum. Vertebral articulations from S1–T1 can be confidently assigned. The vertebra designated L1 is well preserved but lacks transverse processes. Instead, well defined bilateral articular surfaces, rather than transverse processes, are located on the pedicles. The skeletal elements associated with the anomalous L1 articulations were not recovered.The most likely interpretation is that the arthroses in question represent the facets for a 13th pair of ribs, a rare condition in modern hominid populations. Such lumbar developmental anomalies are an infrequent expression of a larger complex of cranial-caudal border shifting seen in the vertebral column. These shifts result in a change in the usual boundaries between the distinctive vertebral regions and are responsible for the majority of variability present in the vertebral column.     

Mortuary practices at the Krapina Neandertal site

It has often been reported that the Krapina Neandertal remains bear incised linear striations which appear to be cutmarks. Here, the plausibility of the striations as cutmarks is tested by comparing them to Mousterian butchery marks on large fauna and to cutmarks on modern human skeletons known to have been defleshed with stone tools. The anatomical location, gross appearance, and frequency of occurrence of the striations on the Krapina material do not resemble Mousterian butchery marks on reindeer. The Krapina striations do closely match authenticated cutmarks on 22 modern human skeletons defleshed with stone tools after partial decomposition, preparatory to secondary burial. Data are presented supporting the hypothesis that the striations on the Krapina Neandertal remains are consistent with postmortem processing of corpses with stone tools, probably in preparation for burial of cleaned bones.     

Regional variation in tooth size and pathology in fossil hominids.

Tooth size and dental pathology in fossil hominids were studied to test for regional differences in these parameters. The results showed little regional variation in tooth size for the Middle and Upper Pleistocene sites compared (except for Krapina) but considerable differences in the severity of attrition and dental pathology. These differences were considered indicative of regional differences in the functional load borne by the teeth, and in view of the similar technological status of the groups studied, were attributed to environmental differences in the diet. Since, in all regions, reduction in tooth size appeared to continue at the same rate for the periods investigated, no association can be established between presumed selective pressures related to differences in functional demands made on the dentition, and tooth reduction.     

The dentition of the "old man" of La Chapelle-aux-Saints and inferences concerning Neandertal behavior

It has been suggested that the fossil Neandertal from La Chapelle-aux-Saints was so toothless that he would have had to have his food pre-chewed or otherwise prepared for him. This has also led to the inference that a high level of altruistic social behavior was characteristic of Neandertals. This appears to be in keeping with a current trend among anthropologists to upgrade the cultural and evolutionary status of Neandertals. Close examination of the recovered teeth and the condition of the alveoli indicates that the "old man" of La Chapelle-aux-Saints had upper and lower incisor, canine and premolar teeth on the left side intact and probably in occlusion, and that the same was true of these teeth in the right maxilla. Mandibular incisors, canine, and first premolar had probably been lost to a tumor or abscessing on the right side, but this pathology may have developed near the time of death. The right mandibular second premolar was probably functional, although tilted similarly to the intact premolar on the left. It is very unlikely that the individual was unable to chew food. The dentition thus gives no reliable evidence of altruistic behavior by his cohorts. This study may also relate to hypotheses concerning the ancestry of anatomically modern humans.     

Relative dental development of Upper Pleistocene hominids compared to human population variation

The relative development of permanent teeth in samples of Neandertal/archaic Homo and Early Modern/Upper Paleolithic hominids is compared to the range of variability found in three recent human samples. Both fossil hominid samples are advanced in relative M2 and M3 development compared to white French-Canadians, but only the Neandertal/archaic Homo M3 sample is advanced when compared to black southern Africans. Both fossil hominid samples are delayed in relative I1 and P3 development compared to the recent human samples. Two hypotheses concerning the significance of the advanced M3 and M2 development found in both hominid groups and southern Africans compared to French-Canadians are discussed. The first postulates that the differences in relative molar development are due simply to variation in tooth/jaw size relationships. The second postulates that the relatively advanced M3 and M2 development found in the fossil hominids and southern Africans is a correlate of their potential for advanced skeletal maturation compared to French-Canadians and other European-derived populations. It appears that dental development patterns have continued to evolve from the Upper Pleistocene to present times, and that Neandertals and Early Moderns shared similar patterns of relative dental development. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Advances in understanding the relationship between the skull base and larynx with comments on the origins of speech

The position of upper respiratory structures, such as the larynx, has proven to be of great importance in determining an animal’s breathing, swallowing and vocalizing abilities. Studies on living mammals have also shown that the shape of the basicranium is related to the position of the larynx. This information has been of value in using the skull base as a means to reconstruct the upper respiratory tract of fossil hominids. Ongoing comparative and experimental studies of this region are adding new information on the mechanical relationship of the skull base to contiguous areas of the respiratory tract. For example, examination of the region in mammals disparate from humans, such as cetaceans, and experimental work on the region in rats, is adding new data on how the larynx and skull base may functionally interact.     

Florisbad and human population succession in Southern Africa.

The human cranium recovered at Florisbad in 1932 is compared with other Sub-Saharan African hominid remains from Broken Hill, the Omo and Klasies River Mouth. The Florisbad frontal is very broad, but despite this breadth and differences in zygomatic form, there is a definite resemblance to archaic Homo sapiens from Broken Hill. There is also some similarity to both Omo I and Omo II, while fragmentary remains from Klasies River are more lightly built and hence more modern in appearance. These impressions are strengthened by measurement and statistical analysis, which demonstrates that Florisbad and Broken Hill are distant from recent African populations. Even if Florisbad is less archaic than the earlier (Middle Pleistocene?) hominid, it is not noticeably Bushman-like. New dates suggestive of early Upper Pleistocene antiquity also place Florisbad securely in a lineage containing Broken Hill, and there is no evidence to support special ties with any one group of living Africans.     

Quaternary carbonate-rocky talus slope successions (Eastern Alps, Austria): sedimentary facies and facies architecture

Quaternary carbonate-lithic talus slope successions of the Eastern Alps record an overall correlation between prevalent sedimentary facies, depositional geometry, and geomorphic maturity of the slope. After exposure of high cliffs by deglaciation or rocksliding, a low-dipping immature talus dominated by unsorted rockfalls initially accumulates. With progressive talus buildup, slope segments of different dips develop. Concomitantly, prevalent depositional processes change to grain flows and sorted rockfalls in the proximal, steep-dipping (35°–30°) slope segment, while deposits of cohesive debris-flows, ephemeral fluid flows and larger rockfalls prevail in the distal, lower-dipping slope segment. In mature talus deposystems, the proximal slope succession overlies the lower-dipping package of the distal slope along a thin ‘downlap interval’. Immediately after cliff exposure by deglaciation or rocksliding, talus may aggrade at rates of up to a few tens of meters per 1,000 years, but the accumulation rate slows strongly with progressive maturity of slopes. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Is the Narmada hominid an Indian Homo erectus?

In 1982 a fossil hominid calvaria was found in a middle Pleistocene deposit in the central Narmada valley of Madhya Pradesh, India, and was assigned to the new taxon Homo erectus narmadensis. Subsequently, morphometric studies of the specimen were conducted by two separate research teams from France and the United States, both in collaboration with Indian colleagues. Results of the most recent study, which includes morphometric and comparative investigations, lead to the conclusion that "Narmada Man" is appropriately identified as Homo sapiens. While the calvaria shares some anatomical features with Asian Homo erectus specimens, it exhibits a broader suite of morphological and mensural characteristics suggesting affinities with early Homo sapiens fossils from Asia, Europe, and Africa as well as demonstrating that the Narmada calvaria possesses some unique anatomical features, perhaps because the specimen reflects the incoherent classificatory condition of the genus Homo.     

Femoral diaphyseal histomorphometric age determinations for the Shanidar 3, 4, 5, and 6 Neandertals and Neandertal longevity

Histomorphometric analysis of femoral diaphyseal fragments from the Shanidar 3, 4, 5, and 6 Neandertals provide age at death estimates of 41 (+/- 6.7), 36 (+/- 6.7), 40 (+/- 6.7), and 24 (+/- 6.7) years. These determinations are in agreement with previous macroscopic age assessments. Since the Shanidar 3, 4, and 5 (and slightly younger Shanidar 1) individuals are among the oldest known Neandertals, these age determinations suggest that significant postreproductive survival was rare among the Neandertals and a phenomenon primarily of anatomically modern humans.     

Dental development in South African australopithecines. Part I: Problems of pattern and chronology

It is well known that humans take about twice as long as apes to mature. The traditional view that such delayed maturation was already present in australopithecines has been called into question during the past several years. We have approached this problem by looking at patterns of dental development in gracile and robust australopithecines from South Africa and comparing them to patterns found in extant humans and apes. We have employed both 2 and 3 dimensional computed tomography in our research. The dental growth patterns in these two australopithecine morphs differ, particularly in M1/I1 development. The robust australopithecines are more humanlike and the gracile australopithecines more apelike in this feature (“humanlike” and “apelike” are not used in any taxonomic sense). Pattern and chronology of dental development must be considered separately. Several major problem areas for future research are identified, most of which revolve around the issue of intra- versus interspecific variation.