The differential frequency of preservation of early hominid wrist and hand bones |
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Authors: | D E Ricklan |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Anatomy Medical School, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road Parktown, 2193 Johannesburg, South Africa |
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Abstract: | A survey of hominid hand and wrist bones of Plio-Pleistocene fossil hominid sites in Africa was undertaken. There are 101
specimens in total, from 7 sites. Carpals are most rarely preserved, but certain elements such as the capitate tend to be
more frequently preserved than others. There is a preservation rate cline from proximal to distal in the hand, proximal elements
(metacarpals) being numerically better preserved than the distal elements (proximal, middle and distal phalanges, in that
order of preservation). The proportion of complete, or nearly complete hand and wrist bones is greater in the distal than
in the proximal elements. There is no statistical difference in the frequency of preservation of left and right sides, or
in the frequency of preservation of proximal and distal ends of individual bones, although there is a tendency for proximal
ends to occur more frequently than distal ends. The incidence of hand and wrist bones in fossil deposits is low compared with
that of other post-cranial skeletal elements (with the exception of foot bones, where the incidence is similar). This could
be accounted for by depositional factors, but preparation techniques and differential collection of specimens may play a role. |
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Keywords: | Hominids Fossils Hand bones Wrist Taphonomy |
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