中国新石器时代居民体质类型及其承继关系

运用数理统计方法把我国新石器时代居民分为华南、华北两大类群,其中华北类群又可分为三个小类群。在人类发展过程中,南、北两群间及华北各类群间都发生过血缘混杂的过程。运用数理统计方法也可把我国旧石器晚期人类——山顶洞人和柳江人在体质特征上与我国新石器时代各组居民明显地区别开来。山顶洞人和柳江人分别代表我国旧石器晚期南北两个不同的地方类型。我国新石器时代居民的所谓澳大利亚—尼格罗人种或南亚人种特点可以追溯到我国旧石器时代晚期人类——柳江人、山顶洞人,这些特点是我国新石器时代组人类固有的特点,只不过在不同的类群中表现有所差异而已。     

中国与日本旧石器时代晚期人类的关系

按照歧异系数,柳江人与港川人很接近,其程度和港川人二女性之间或山顶洞二女性之间接近的程度相似,柳江人与山顶洞人相去较远,山顶洞人与港川人相去较远,身材的比较也支持这些看法。     

Animal resources and subsistence strategies

Several faunal assemblages excavated in deposits of different antiquity (from Lower Paleolithic to Bronze Age), located in Northern, Central and Southern Italy, were studied from the archeozoological and taphonomic point of view. Data obtained by different Authors allow reconstruction of subsistence strategies adopted by prehistoric humans in these areas and through time, in particular as far as the exploitation of animal resources is concerned. The following assemblages were considered: Isernia La Pineta (Molise; Lower Paleolithic), Grotta Breuil (Latium; Middle Paleolithic), Grotta della Ghiacciaia (Verona; Middle Paleolithic), Riparo di Fumane and Riparo Tagliente (Verona; Middle and Upper Paleolithic), Riparo Mochi (Liguria; Upper Paleolithic), Grotta della Continenza (L'Aquila; Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic), Grotta dell'Edera (Trieste; Mesolithic and Neolithic), Grotta della Cala at Marina di Camerota (Salerno; Eneolithic), Contraguda (Sassari; Neolithic), Castellaro Lagusello (Mantova; Bronze Age). Exploitation of the vegetal resources has been analyzed in the Neolithic sites of Colle Santo Stefano (Fucino), Settefonti (L'Aquila) and Catignano (Pescara).     

Neolithic greenstone in Umbria, from the Bellucci Collection. Petrography, provenance, interpretation

Sixty-six stone tools sampled through archaeological criteria, all but six from the Bellucci Collection in the Archaeological Museum, Perugia, are presented. Sixty-four of them are axes or chisels (two) of Neolithic typology, and save a few of them all are complete and largely polished; two are Chalcolithic shaft-holed axes. Sixty tools are made of HP-metaophiolites (33 eclogites, 26 Na-px jades, 1 serpentinite), the same lithologies dominant in Neolithic implements found in Northern Italy. Their study gives the first petrographic evidence of an important supply of these lithologies from the NW Italy production areas towards Central Italy. Three implements (including one shaft-holed axe) are made of sedimentary rocks of local origin. Three others (including one shaft-holed axe), made of lavic volcanites pertaining to the Tyrrhenian Quaternary potassic volcanism of Central — Southern Italy, provide evidence of occasional sources from the South to Umbria, lasting from the Neolithic to Chalcholitic periods.      

中国人和日本人在人种上的关系——颅骨测量性状的统计分析研究

本研究以北亚、东亚、东南亚和大洋洲一大片区域为背景探索日本人的起源和亲缘关系。结果显示日本旧石器时代港川人、绳文时代和现代人与大约同时期的华南居民有最接近的亲缘关系;从绳文时代到现代日本人的时代变化具有与后者(以及华北居民)相同的趋势。     

Evolutional process and depositional cycles of Peking Man Cave in relation to the living environments and cultural development of Peking Man

Evolutional process of the Peking Man Cave, from funnel and vertical channel development in the Early Pliocene to the cave close in the late Middle Pleistocene, may be divided into six stages. Cave deposits in filling process of the cave from Layer 13 to Layer 1 can be divided into seven depositional cycles. These cycles allow a correspond with the loess sequences S7-L2 in China and oxygen isotope stages 19-6 of climatic cycles I-C of deep sea records. The living environments and cultural development of Peking Man in closely related to the cave environments of each stage in evolutional process and each cycle in depositional process of the cave are researched in this paper. The cave evolutional process has gone through about 4 Ma. The Peking Man start entered into the cave and made stone implements before 580 ka B.P. The cultural development of Peking Man may be divided into the early, middle and late three stages about in 580–420 ka, 420–340 ka and 340–250 ka, respectively. Peking Man's first used fire is about 530 ka B.P. Habitation of Peking Man concetrated in the western part of the cave after 340 ka B.P. when eastern cave roof was collapsed. Peking Man left the cave after 250 ka B.P. during the cave was continuous collapsed and almost filled up.     

鲤鱼墩新石器时代居民头骨的形态学分析

本文对广东省湛江市遂溪县鲤鱼墩新石器时代遗址所出土的5例人类头骨进行了形态学分析。这些个体在种族特征方面较为一致, 应属于蒙古大人种的范畴, 可被视为"古华南类型"群体, 较接近于现代的南亚类型。岭南地区6组史前时期人群的聚类分析(马氏距离)和特征分析结果表明, 鲤鱼墩组、东湾仔北组、鱿鱼岗组与河宕组之间存在相对较近的形态学关系; 柳江人和甑皮岩组关系最为密切。在更为广泛的地理空间范围内, 对18组不同时期人群进行的聚类分析(马氏距离)和因子分析的结果显示, 鲤鱼墩人群与其他人群保持了相对较远的形态学距离。另外, 岭南地区的古人类从晚更新世阶段到新石器时代晚期, 在颅骨的绝对测量值上反映出一个短颅化、狭颅化和高颅化的过程, 而颅指数反映的却是长颅化的趋势, 说明该地区古人类的颅宽值较之颅长值减小得更快, 形成了颅骨尺寸在绝对值上的减小, 在颅指数上却反映出长颅化趋势的现象。由此可以推测, 现代南亚类型居民的典型长颅型特征可能是在全新世之初开始逐渐形成的。     

广西壮族颅骨的测量与研究

本文以来源于壮族居民世代聚居地区,生前资料比较可靠的150例颅骨为材料并用多因素分析等6方法探索壮族的体质特征、人种地位、地区类型及可能的起源。结果表明,壮族居民属黄色人种南亚类型,中华民族的华南,与柳江人,Chen皮岩人有最接近的亲缘关系。     

Age and growth of the Pacific halibut <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hippoglossus stenolepis</Emphasis> and the size-age composition of its catches in the North-Western part of the Pacific Ocean

The results of investigation are discussed on age and growth of the Pacific halibut Hippolglossus stenolepis, as well as size-age composition of its catches in three regions of the North-Western Pacific—in Navarin area of the Bering Sea, in Pacific waters on the Northern Kurils and south-eastern Kamchatka, of the Southern Kurils—from the end of the last century. The growth rate of Pacific halibut is similar in all three regions in spite of their considerable geographic remoteness. No significant differences in the growth rate of males and females in these regions, as well as no significant interannual differences in growth of specimens caught in Pacific waters off the Northern Kurils and south-eastern Kamchatka in 1996–2000, are found. Comparison of the present-day size-age composition and that in the beginning-middle of the last century revealed their considerable similarity.     

Les hommes de Néandertal du Caucase du Nord : entre l’Ouest et l’Est

A geographical position of the Caucasus in the border between Europe and Asia defines a complex character of the Middle Paleolithic in the region as a whole and in the Northern Caucasus in particular. Today, we can recognize three major cultural areas existed during the Middle Paleolithic in the Northern Caucasus: (1) a local North Caucasian variant of Eastern Micoquian, which is closely related to Eastern Micoquian of Central and Eastern Europe, in the Northwestern Caucasus; (2) a specific Caucasian industry type (called Khostinian Mousterian), which penetrated during later MIS 3 to the Northwestern Caucasus from the Northeastern Black sea cost in the Southern Caucasus; and (3) a similar to Zagros Mousterian industry, which is presented in Weasel Cave in the Northeastern Caucasus.     

Staré Město Epipalaeolithic skull and the Palaeolithic-Neolithic Evolutionary Transition

The Epipalaeolithic find from Staré Město, Moravia was compared with upper Paleolithic Pavlovian skull Dolní Věstonice III and with four early Neolithic female skulls from Vedrovice (Moravia). The morphological changes were considered in chronological and cultural sequence.     

Microevolution of outer and inner structures of upper molars in Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene humans

In this study, we investigate outer and inner variations of upper second molars (UM2) for Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene modern humans, at a key-period in our evolutionary history associated with major sociocultural, economic and environmental changes. Non-metric traits have been recorded on 89 UM2 of 66 Upper Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic individuals, and 40 UM2 have been microscanned to assess variations in enamel thickness (ET) distribution and enamel–dentine junction (EDJ) shape. Major changes are found between Mesolithic and Neolithic periods: a decrease of the metacone expression combined with an increase of the hypocone development; an increase of the heterogeneity of ET distribution between lingual and buccal cusps; and an increase of the development of the dentine horn tips corresponding to the hypocone and, to a lesser extent, to the metacone. These morphological modifications could be linked to the masticatory functional changes associated with the transition to agriculture.     

Influence of Paleolithic range contraction,admixture and long‐distance dispersal on genetic gradients of modern humans in Asia

Cavalli‐Sforza and coauthors originally explored the genetic variation of modern humans throughout the world and observed an overall east‐west genetic gradient in Asia. However, the specific environmental and population genetics processes causing this gradient were not formally investigated and promoted discussion in recent studies. Here we studied the influence of diverse environmental and population genetics processes on Asian genetic gradients and identified which could have produced the observed gradient. To do so, we performed extensive spatially‐explicit computer simulations of genetic data under the following scenarios: (a) variable levels of admixture between Paleolithic and Neolithic populations, (b) migration through long‐distance dispersal (LDD), (c) Paleolithic range contraction induced by the last glacial maximum (LGM), and (d) Neolithic range expansions from one or two geographic origins (the Fertile Crescent and the Yangzi and Yellow River Basins). Next, we estimated genetic gradients from the simulated data and we found that they were sensible to the analysed processes, especially to the range contraction induced by LGM and to the number of Neolithic expansions. Some scenarios were compatible with the observed east‐west genetic gradient, such as the Paleolithic expansion with a range contraction induced by the LGM or two Neolithic range expansions from both the east and the west. In general, LDD increased the variance of genetic gradients among simulations. We interpreted the obtained gradients as a consequence of both allele surfing caused by range expansions and isolation by distance along the vast east‐west geographic axis of this continent.     

Evolution of Hominid Femur and Tibia: A morphometric approach to the evolutionary research in anthropology

Some theoretical and methodological morphometrical approaches in evolutionary anthropology and paleoanthropology are reviewed in this study. It is shown which are the contemporary possibilities of sophisticated biometrical and biostatistical methods and the role of the morphometrical approach. A new approach, experimental morphometrics, is presented, reflecting recent trends in evolutionary morphology as well as sophisticated biostatistical methods. The approach emphasizes the complex inter-related approach to the data processing and a double nature of morphometric data, i.e. biological and biostatistical one. The practical use of experimental morphometry is given for the two examples of analyses of the evolution of the hominoid and hominid femur and tibia. The hypothesis on a two stage restructuring of morphology of the hominid femur and tibia is supported by experimental results. Two different steps during this restructuring could be recognized: 1) Structural remodelling typical for the origin of hominids and australopithecine evolution, and 2) proportional remodelling of lower limb long bones which is connected with the Australopithecus/Homo transition (i.e. mainly Homo habilis stage). The results confirm the increasing trend of bipedal adaptations on the early hominid lower limb skeleton. Analysis of microevolutionary trends on the Homo sapiens femur and tibia indicates at least three different morphological patterns, Paleolithic, Neolithic and Recent, with numerous specific features in morphology and proportions. Neanderthal morphology is very derived. Upper Paleolithic/Mesolithic/Neolithic transition has a key character for the understanding of post-Paleolithic morphology. A very high sexual dimorphism of the femur and tibia has been demonstrated for Upper Paleolithic and Neolithic populations. Presented at the Foundation of Different Approaches to the Study of Human Evolution edited by B. Sigmon & V.V. Leonovicova-Liblice, September 1–3, 1989     

Y Chromosomes of 40% Chinese Descend from Three Neolithic Super-Grandfathers

Demographic change of human populations is one of the central questions for delving into the past of human beings. To identify major population expansions related to male lineages, we sequenced 78 East Asian Y chromosomes at 3.9 Mbp of the non-recombining region, discovered >4,000 new SNPs, and identified many new clades. The relative divergence dates can be estimated much more precisely using a molecular clock. We found that all the Paleolithic divergences were binary; however, three strong star-like Neolithic expansions at ∼6 kya (thousand years ago) (assuming a constant substitution rate of 1×10⁻⁹/bp/year) indicates that ∼40% of modern Chinese are patrilineal descendants of only three super-grandfathers at that time. This observation suggests that the main patrilineal expansion in China occurred in the Neolithic Era and might be related to the development of agriculture.     

Comparison of Avar period anthropological series

This study concerns human skeletal remains recovered from nine Avar period cemeteries from two regions, one in Northern Hungary and the other from Backa in Yugoslavia. Regional differences are compared using Penrose's generalised distance method, Alexeyeva's indices and preauricular facio-cerebral indices.     

Convergent Evolutionary Paths in Biological and Technological Networks

Technology seems to follow a different type of evolutionary dynamic when compared with biological systems. As pointed out by Francois Jacob, evolution takes place by means of extensive tinkering and does not foresee the future. Engineers will typically have a well-defined purpose and are not—in principle—constrained by the available technological constraints. However, the truth is that technological change shares much more than we might suspect with the patterns and processes displayed by evolution. Using case studies from both protein maps and large-scale software networks, we show that several key traits, such as scale-free structure and modularity, are shared by both man-made and biological evolving systems. Surprisingly, we find convergent evolution in several key features of software systems, indicating that strong constraints are at work. Such constraints force engineers to extensively reuse already constructed parts, thus de facto tinkering with their designs in a way similar to the duplication–diversification mechanism driving genome growth. The evolution of these systems reveals that well-defined patterns are obtained “for free.” Some of them can be properly interpreted as technological spandrels.     

福建漳平奇和洞发现的新石器时代早期人类头骨

2011年在福建漳平奇和洞发现的距今1万年左右的新石器时代早期人类遗骸"奇和洞III号",是迄今在福建地区发现的最早、最完整的古人类头骨,为探讨华南更新世晚期向全新世过渡阶段人类的体质特征及现代人群的形成与分化提供了重要的研究材料。本文对这件头骨进行了研究,奇和洞III号为35岁左右的男性个体,牙齿龋病严重,推测当时人类的经济模式主要以农耕为主。通过与更新世晚期柳江、山顶洞101号及14组新石器时代人类头骨的比较,发现奇和洞III号头骨兼有更新世晚期人类及新石器南、北方居民的混合体质特征:奇和洞III号头骨长而脑量大,似更新世晚期人类;其高而狭窄的面部、宽阔而低矮的鼻部,呈现出不同于南、北方人群的特殊体质特征。主成分分析显示,奇和洞III号与对比的新石器时代各组在头骨的测量数据上没有表现为明显的南、北地区间差异,但在头骨的测量指数或形状上存在时代和地区间的不同。本文研究为新旧石器过渡阶段人类体质特征的变异提供了进一步证据。     

Assessing temporal and geographic contacts across the Adriatic Sea through the analysis of genome-wide data from Southern Italy

Southern Italy was characterised by a complex prehistory that started with different Palaeolithic cultures, later followed by the Neolithization and the demic dispersal from the Pontic-Caspian Steppe during the Bronze Age. Archaeological and historical evidences point to a link between Southern Italians and the Balkans still present in modern times. To shed light on these dynamics, we analysed around 700 South Mediterranean genomes combined with informative ancient DNAs. Our findings revealed high affinities of South-Eastern Italians with modern Eastern Peloponnesians, and a closer affinity of ancient Greek genomes with those from specific regions of South Italy than modern Greek genomes. The higher similarity could be associated with a Bronze Age component ultimately originating from the Caucasus with high Iranian and Anatolian Neolithic ancestries. Furthermore, extremely differentiated allele frequencies among Northern and Southern Italy revealed putatively adapted SNPs in genes involved in alcohol metabolism, nevi features and immunological traits.     

东谷坨遗址石制品再研究

东谷坨下更新统旧石器遗址发现的1676件石制品,包括各种类型的石核、石片和加工的石器,还有断块,其中石片数量占绝对优势,剥片技术基本上为硬锤锤击,选择台面的打击点和充分利用台面具有成熟的逻辑思维结构。石制品岩性主要为燧石,保存相当新鲜。石制品以小型和宽薄型为主。石器中有加工精致的尖状器和各种样式的边刃器。东谷坨石制品与北京周口店"中国猿人"的本质上没有差异,它们应该属于中国旧石器早期的同一"文化"或"工业"系统。