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López-Rey JM, D'Angelo Del Campo MD, Seldes V, García-Martínez D, Bastir M. Eco-geographic and sexual variation of the ribcage in Homo sapiens. Evol Anthropol 2024:e22040. [PMID: 38951738 DOI: 10.1002/evan.22040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Up to now, Allen and Bergmann's rules have been studied in modern humans by analyzing differences in limb length, height, or body mass. However, there are no publications studying the effects of latitude in the 3D configuration of the ribcage. To assess this issue, we digitally reconstructed the ribcages of a balanced sample of 109 adult individuals of global distribution. Shape and size of the ribcage was quantified using geometric morphometrics. Our results show that the ribcage belonging to tropical individuals is smaller and slenderer compared to others living in higher latitudes, which is in line with Allen and Bergmann's rules and suggests an allometric relationship between size and shape. Although sexual dimorphism was observed in the whole sample, significant differences were only found in tropical populations. Our proposal is that, apart from potential sexual selection, avoiding heat loss might be the limiting factor for sexual dimorphism in cold-adapted populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M López-Rey
- Department of Paleobiology, Paleoanthropology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- Laboratorio de Poblaciones del Pasado (LAPP), Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel D D'Angelo Del Campo
- Laboratorio de Poblaciones del Pasado (LAPP), Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tandil (CONICET, CTT Tandil), Tandil, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Ecología Evolutiva Humana (LEEH), Facultad de Ciencias Sociales (FACSO), Unidad de Enseñanza Universitaria Quequén (UEUQ), Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPB), Quequén, Argentina
- Museo de Antropología, Instituto de Investigación Arqueológica y Antropológica (INIAA), Universidad Mayor, Real y Pontificia de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca (UMRPSFXCH), Sucre, Bolivia
| | - Verónica Seldes
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tandil (CONICET, CTT Tandil), Tandil, Argentina
- Instituto de Ciencias Antropológicas, Sección de Antropología Biológica - Instituto de Arqueología, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras (FFYL), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniel García-Martínez
- Physical Anthropology Unit, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Life Sciences, Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Center for Functional Ecology - Science for People and the Planet (CFE), Centre for Functional Ecology, University of Coimbra (UC), Calçada Martim de Freitas, Coimbra, Portugal
- Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), Burgos, Spain
| | - Markus Bastir
- Department of Paleobiology, Paleoanthropology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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Gómez-Olivencia A, Arsuaga JL. The Sima de los Huesos thorax and lumbar spine: Selected traits and state-of-the-art. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2024; 307:2465-2490. [PMID: 38450997 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Information on the evolution of the thorax and lumbar spine in the genus Homo is hampered by a limited fossil record due to the inherent fragility of vertebrae and ribs. Neandertals show significant metric and morphological differences in these two anatomical regions, when compared to Homo sapiens. Thus, the important fossil record from the Middle Pleistocene site of Sima de los Huesos (SH) not only offers important information on the evolution of these anatomical regions within the Neandertal lineage but also provides important clues to understand the evolution of these regions at the genus level. We present the current knowledge of the costal skeleton, and the thoracic and lumbar spine anatomy of the hominins found in Sima de los Huesos compared to that of Neandertals and modern humans. The current SH fossil record comprises 738 vertebral specimens representing a minimum of 70 cervical, 95 thoracic and 47 lumbar vertebrae, 652 rib fragments representing a minimum of 118 ribs, and 26 sternal fragments representing 4 sterna. The SH hominins exhibit a morphological pattern in their thorax and lumbar spine more similar to that of Neandertals than to that of H. sapiens, which is consistent with the phylogenetic position of these hominins. However, there are some differences between the SH hominins and Neandertals in these anatomical regions, primarily in the orientation of the lumbar transverse processes and in the robusticity of the second ribs. The presence of some but not all of the suite of Neandertal-derived features is consistent with the pattern found in the cranium and other postcranial regions of this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asier Gómez-Olivencia
- Dept. Geología, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
- Sociedad de Ciencias Aranzadi, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Centro UCM-ISCIII de Investigación sobre Evolución y Comportamiento Humanos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Luis Arsuaga
- Centro UCM-ISCIII de Investigación sobre Evolución y Comportamiento Humanos, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Carretero JM, Rodríguez L, García-González R, Arsuaga JL. Main morphological characteristics and sexual dimorphism of hominin adult femora from the Sima de los Huesos Middle Pleistocene site (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain). Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2024; 307:2575-2605. [PMID: 37794824 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
The excellent fossil record from Sima de los Huesos (SH) includes three well-known complete adult femora and several partial specimens that have not yet been published in detail. This fossil record provides an opportunity to analyze the morphology of European pre-Neandertal adult femur and its variation with different evolution patterns. Currently, there are a minimum of five adult individuals (males or females). In this study, we compiled previously published basic anatomical and biometric characteristics of SH adult femora, emphasizing the most relevant features compared to other recent and fossil hominins. The SH femora exhibited a primitive morphological pattern common to all non-Homo sapiens femora, as well as most of the Neandertal traits. Therefore, the complete Upper Pleistocene Neandertal pattern was well-established in Middle Pleistocene ancestors long before the proper Neandertals appeared. Additionally, we highlight that the SH and Neandertal femora share some morphological traits and proportions with modern humans that hold sexual significance in our species, regardless of size. Keeping this in mind, we discussed the sex determination of the complete SH specimens and re-evaluated sex allocation in two of them.
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Affiliation(s)
- José-Miguel Carretero
- Dpto. de Ciencias Históricas y Geografía, Laboratorio de Evolución Humana, Universidad de Burgos, Burgos, Spain
- Unidad Asociada de I+D+i al CSIC, Vidrio y Materiales del Patrimonio Cultural (VIMPAC), Burgos, Spain
| | - Laura Rodríguez
- Dpto. de Ciencias Históricas y Geografía, Laboratorio de Evolución Humana, Universidad de Burgos, Burgos, Spain
- Area de Antropología Física, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Gestión Ambiental, Universidad de León, León, Spain
| | - Rebeca García-González
- Dpto. de Ciencias Históricas y Geografía, Laboratorio de Evolución Humana, Universidad de Burgos, Burgos, Spain
| | - Juan-Luis Arsuaga
- Centro UCM-ISCIII de Investigación sobre Evolución y Comportamiento Humanos, Madrid, Spain
- Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Departamento de Paleontología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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López-Rey JM, Cambra-Moo Ó, González Martín A, Candelas González N, Sánchez-Andrés Á, Tawane M, Cazenave M, Williams SA, Bastir M, García-Martínez D. Covariation between the shape and mineralized tissues of the rib cross section in Homo sapiens, Pan troglodytes and Sts 14. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2024; 183:157-164. [PMID: 37724468 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Studying rib torsion is crucial for understanding the evolution of the hominid ribcage. Interestingly, there are variables of the rib cross section that could be associated with rib torsion and, consequently, with the morphology of the thorax. The aim of this research is to conduct a comparative study of the shape and mineralized tissues of the rib cross section in different hominids to test for significant differences and, if possible, associate them to different thoracic morphotypes. MATERIALS AND METHODS The sample consists of the rib cross sections at the midshaft taken from 10 Homo sapiens and 10 Pan troglodytes adult individuals, as well as from A. africanus Sts 14. The shape of these rib cross sections was quantified using geometric morphometrics, while the mineralized tissues were evaluated using the compartmentalization index. Subsequently, covariation between both parameters was tested by a Spearman's ρ test, a permutation test and a linear regression. RESULTS Generally, P. troglodytes individuals exhibit rib cross sections that are rounder and more mineralized compared to those of H. sapiens. However, the covariation between both parameters was only observed in typical ribs (levels 3-10). Although covariation was not found in the rib cross sections of Sts 14, their parameters are closer to P. troglodytes. DISCUSSION On the one hand, the differences observed in the rib cross sections between H. sapiens and P. troglodytes might be related to different degrees of rib torsion and, consequently, to different thoracic 3D configurations. These findings can be functionally explained by considering their distinct modes of breathing and locomotion. On the other hand, although the rib cross sections belonging to Sts 14 are more similar to those of P. troglodytes, previous publications determined that their overall morphology is closer to modern humans. This discrepancy could reflect a diversity of post-cranial adaptations in Australopithecus.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M López-Rey
- Laboratorio de Poblaciones del Pasado (LAPP), Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Paleoanthropology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Óscar Cambra-Moo
- Laboratorio de Poblaciones del Pasado (LAPP), Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Armando González Martín
- Laboratorio de Poblaciones del Pasado (LAPP), Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nieves Candelas González
- Laboratorio de Poblaciones del Pasado (LAPP), Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Mirriam Tawane
- Department of Paleontology, Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Marine Cazenave
- Division of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, USA
- Skeletal Biology Research Centre, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Scott A Williams
- Center for the Study of Human Origins (CSHO), Department of Anthropology, New York University (NYU), New York, New York, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), New York, New York, USA
| | - Markus Bastir
- Paleoanthropology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel García-Martínez
- Physical Anthropology Unit, Department of Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Division of Paleobiology, Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), Burgos, Spain
- Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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López-Rey JM, García-Martínez D, Martelli S, Beyer B, Palancar CA, Torres-Sánchez I, García-Río F, Bastir M. Estimation of the upper diaphragm in KNM-WT 15000 (Homo erectus s.l.) and Kebara 2 (Homo neanderthalensis) using a Homo sapiens model. J Hum Evol 2023; 185:103442. [PMID: 37862773 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2023.103442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- José M López-Rey
- Paleoanthropology Group, Department of Paleobiology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Calle José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain; Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Calle Darwin, 2, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Daniel García-Martínez
- Physical Anthropology Unit, Department of Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Calle José Antonio Novais, 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Centre for Functional Ecology, Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Department of Life Sciences, Universidade de Coimbra, CC Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sandra Martelli
- UCL Centre for Integrative Anatomy, Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Benoît Beyer
- Laboratory for Functional Anatomy, Faculty of Motor Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Route de Lennik, 808, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Carlos A Palancar
- Paleoanthropology Group, Department of Paleobiology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Calle José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Torres-Sánchez
- Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario La Paz, Paseo de la Castellana, 261, 28046 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco García-Río
- Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario La Paz, Paseo de la Castellana, 261, 28046 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Avenida de Monforte de Lemos, 5, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Calle Arzobispo Morcillo, 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Markus Bastir
- Paleoanthropology Group, Department of Paleobiology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Calle José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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Ríos L, Sleeper MM, Danforth MD, Murphy HW, Kutinsky I, Rosas A, Bastir M, Gómez-Cambronero J, Sanjurjo R, Campens L, Rider O, Pastor F. The aorta in humans and African great apes, and cardiac output and metabolic levels in human evolution. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6841. [PMID: 37100851 PMCID: PMC10133235 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33675-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Humans have a larger energy budget than great apes, allowing the combination of the metabolically expensive traits that define our life history. This budget is ultimately related to the cardiac output, the product of the blood pumped from the ventricle and the number of heart beats per minute, a measure of the blood available for the whole organism physiological activity. To show the relationship between cardiac output and energy expenditure in hominid evolution, we study a surrogate measure of cardiac output, the aortic root diameter, in humans and great apes. When compared to gorillas and chimpanzees, humans present an increased body mass adjusted aortic root diameter. We also use data from the literature to show that over the human lifespan, cardiac output and total energy expenditure follow almost identical trajectories, with a marked increase during the period of brain growth, and a plateau during most of the adult life. The limited variation of adjusted cardiac output with sex, age and physical activity supports the compensation model of energy expenditure in humans. Finally, we present a first study of cardiac output in the skeleton through the study of the aortic impression in the vertebral bodies of the spine. It is absent in great apes, and present in humans and Neanderthals, large-brained hominins with an extended life cycle. An increased adjusted cardiac output, underlying higher total energy expenditure, would have been a key process in human evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Ríos
- Unit of Physical Anthropology, Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Physical Anthropology, Aranzadi Sciences Society, 20014, Donostia, Basque Country, Spain.
- Paleoanthropology Group, Department of Paleobiology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), 28006, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Meg M Sleeper
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue, PO Box 100126, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0126, USA
| | - Marietta D Danforth
- Great Ape Heart Project, Detroit Zoological Society, 8450 W. 10 Mile Rd., Royal Oak, MI, 48067, USA
| | - Hayley Weston Murphy
- Great Ape Heart Project, Detroit Zoological Society, 8450 W. 10 Mile Rd., Royal Oak, MI, 48067, USA
| | - Ilana Kutinsky
- Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, 586 Pioneer Drive, Rochester, MI, 48309, USA
| | - Antonio Rosas
- Paleoanthropology Group, Department of Paleobiology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Markus Bastir
- Paleoanthropology Group, Department of Paleobiology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Gómez-Cambronero
- Unit of Physical Anthropology, Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Sanjurjo
- Unit of Physical Anthropology, Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laurence Campens
- Cardiology Department, Ghent University Hospital, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Oliver Rider
- University of Oxford Centre for Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Research, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Francisco Pastor
- Department of Anatomy and Radiology, University of Valladolid, 47005, Valladolid, Spain
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Levinson SC. Gesture, spatial cognition and the evolution of language. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20210481. [PMID: 36871589 PMCID: PMC9985965 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Human communication displays a striking contrast between the diversity of languages and the universality of the principles underlying their use in conversation. Despite the importance of this interactional base, it is not obvious that it heavily imprints the structure of languages. However, a deep-time perspective suggests that early hominin communication was gestural, in line with all the other Hominidae. This gestural phase of early language development seems to have left its traces in the way in which spatial concepts, implemented in the hippocampus, provide organizing principles at the heart of grammar. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Face2face: advancing the science of social interaction'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen C. Levinson
- Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, 6525XD, The Netherlands
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Antón SC, Middleton ER. Making meaning from fragmentary fossils: Early Homo in the Early to early Middle Pleistocene. J Hum Evol 2023; 179:103307. [PMID: 37030994 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2022.103307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 04/10/2023]
Abstract
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Journal of Human Evolution, we re-evaluate the fossil record for early Homo (principally Homo erectus, Homo habilis, and Homo rudolfensis) from early diversification and dispersal in the Early Pleistocene to the ultimate demise of H. erectus in the early Middle Pleistocene. The mid-1990s marked an important historical turning point in our understanding of early Homo with the redating of key H. erectus localities, the discovery of small H. erectus in Asia, and the recovery of an even earlier presence of early Homo in Africa. As such, we compare our understanding of early Homo before and after this time and discuss how the order of fossil discovery and a focus on anchor specimens has shaped, and in many ways biased, our interpretations of early Homo species and the fossils allocated to them. Fragmentary specimens may counter conventional wisdom but are often overlooked in broad narratives. We recognize at least three different cranial and two or three pelvic morphotypes of early Homo. Just one postcranial morph aligns with any certainty to a cranial species, highlighting the importance of explicitly identifying how we link specimens together and to species; we offer two ways of visualizing these connections. Chronologically and morphologically H. erectus is a member of early Homo, not a temporally more recent species necessarily evolved from either H. habilis or H. rudolfensis. Nonetheless, an ancestral-descendant notion of their evolution influences expectations around the anatomy of missing elements, especially the foot. Weak support for long-held notions of postcranial modernity in H. erectus raises the possibility of alternative drivers of dispersal. New observations suggest that the dearth of faces in later H. erectus may mask taxonomic diversity in Asia and suggest various later mid-Pleistocene populations could derive from either Asia or Africa. Future advances will rest on the development of nuanced ways to affiliate fossils, greater transparency of implicit assumptions, and attention to detailed life history information for comparative collections; all critical pursuits for future research given the great potential they have to enrich our evolutionary reconstructions for the next fifty years and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan C Antón
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, NY, NY 10003, USA.
| | - Emily R Middleton
- Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
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9
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Pomeroy E. Review: The different adaptive trajectories in Neanderthals and Homo sapiens and their implications for contemporary human physiological variation. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2023; 280:111420. [PMID: 37001690 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.111420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Neanderthals are our one of our closest evolutionary cousins, but while they evolved in Eurasia, we (anatomically modern humans, AMH) originated in Africa. This contrasting evolutionary history has led to morphological and genetic distinctions between our species. Neanderthals are characterised by a relatively stocky build, high body mass, proportionally wide bodies and shorter limbs, a bell-shaped ribcage with a wide pelvis, and a long, low cranial vault compared with AMH. Classic readings of Neanderthal morphology link many of these traits to cold climate adaptations, however these interpretations have been questioned and alternative hypotheses including behavioural factors, dietary adaptations, locomotor specialisations, evolutionary history and neutral evolutionary processes have been invoked. Compared with AMH, Neanderthals may have been adapted for strength and power rather than endurance and may have consumed a diet high in animal products. However, reviewing these hypotheses highlights a number of limitations in our understanding of contemporary human physiology and metabolism, including the relationship between climate and morphology in AMH and Neanderthals, physiological limits on protein consumption, and the relationship between gut morphology and diet. As various relevant factors are clearly linked (e.g. diet, behaviour, metabolism, morphology, activity), ultimately a more integrated approach may be needed to fully understand Neanderthal biology. Variation among contemporary AMHs may offer, with caveats, a useful model for understanding the evolution of both Neanderthal and modern human characteristics, which in turn may further deepen our understanding of variability within and between contemporary humans. Neanderthals; Anatomically modern humans; morphology; climate adaptation; power adaptations; metabolism; diet; physiology; endurance running.
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Grine FE, Mongle CS, Fleagle JG, Hammond AS. The taxonomic attribution of African hominin postcrania from the Miocene through the Pleistocene: Associations and assumptions. J Hum Evol 2022; 173:103255. [PMID: 36375243 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2022.103255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Postcranial bones may provide valuable information about fossil taxa relating to their locomotor habits, manipulative abilities and body sizes. Distinctive features of the postcranial skeleton are sometimes noted in species diagnoses. Although numerous isolated postcranial fossils have become accepted by many workers as belonging to a particular species, it is worthwhile revisiting the evidence for each attribution before including them in comparative samples in relation to the descriptions of new fossils, functional analyses in relation to particular taxa, or in evolutionary contexts. Although some workers eschew the taxonomic attribution of postcranial fossils as being less important (or interesting) than interpreting their functional morphology, it is impossible to consider the evolution of functional anatomy in a taxonomic and phylogenetic vacuum. There are 21 widely recognized hominin taxa that have been described from sites in Africa dated from the Late Miocene to the Middle Pleistocene; postcranial elements have been attributed to 17 of these. The bones that have been thus assigned range from many parts of a skeleton to isolated elements. However, the extent to which postcranial material can be reliably attributed to a specific taxon varies considerably from site to site and species to species, and is often the subject of considerable debate. Here, we review the postcranial remains attributed to African hominin taxa from the Late Miocene to the Middle and Late Pleistocene and place these assignations into categories of reliability. The catalog of attributions presented here may serve as a guide for making taxonomic decisions in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederick E Grine
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-4364, USA; Department of Anatomical Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-4364, USA.
| | - Carrie S Mongle
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-4364, USA; Division of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024-5192, USA; Turkana Basin Institute, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-4364, USA
| | - John G Fleagle
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-4364, USA
| | - Ashley S Hammond
- Division of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024-5192, USA; New York Consortium of Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), New York, NY 10024, USA
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Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology in Denmark. SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/sjfs-2022-0016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
In this paper, we provide a brief overview of the status of forensic anthropology and forensic archeology in Denmark, as well as related information about education, research, and skeletal collections. Forensic anthropologists mainly deal with the examination of unidentified skeletal remains. Some special tasks include cranial trauma analysis of the recently deceased, advanced 3D visualization from CT scanning of homicide cases, and stature estimation of perpetrators using surveillance videos. Forensic anthropologists are employed at one of Denmark’s three departments of forensic medicine (in Copenhagen, Odense, and Aarhus) and have access to advanced imaging equipment (e.g., CT and MR scanning, surface scanners, and 3D printers) for use in both their requisitioned work and their research. Extensive research is conducted on different topics, such as the health and diseases of past populations, age estimation, and human morphology. Research is based on skeletal material from the archeological collections housed in Copenhagen and Odense or on CT data from the recently deceased. There is no full degree in forensic anthropology in Denmark, but elective courses and lectures are offered to students at different levels and to people from different professional backgrounds.
Forensic archaeology is a relatively new field of expertise in Denmark, and relevant cases are rare, with only one or two cases per year. No forensic archeologists are officially employed in any of the departments of forensic medicine. Until recently, the Special Crime Unit of the police handled crime scene investigations involving excavations, but with the option of enlisting the help of outside specialists, such as archaeologists, anthropologists, and pathologists. An official excavation work group was established in 2015 under the lead of the Special Crime Unit of the police with the aim of refining the methods and procedures used in relevant criminal investigations. The group is represented by five police officers from the Special Crime Scene Unit, a police officer from the National Police Dog Training center, the two archaeologists from Moesgaard Museum, a forensic anthropologist from the Department of Forensic Medicine (University of Copenhagen), and a forensic pathologist from the Department of Forensic Medicine (University of Aarhus).
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Bastir M, González Ruíz JM, Rueda J, Garrido López G, Gómez-Recio M, Beyer B, San Juan AF, Navarro E. Variation in human 3D trunk shape and its functional implications in hominin evolution. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11762. [PMID: 35817835 PMCID: PMC9273616 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15344-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigates the contribution of external trunk morphology and posture to running performance in an evolutionary framework. It has been proposed that the evolution from primitive to derived features of torso shape involved changes from a mediolaterally wider into a narrower, and antero-posteriorly deeper into a shallower, more lightly built external trunk configuration, possibly in relation to habitat-related changes in locomotor and running behaviour. In this context we produced experimental data to address the hypothesis that medio-laterally narrow and antero-posteriorly shallow torso morphologies favour endurance running capacities. We used 3D geometric morphometrics to relate external 3D trunk shape of trained, young male volunteers (N = 27) to variation in running velocities during different workloads determined at 45–50%, 70% and 85% of heart rate reserve (HRR) and maximum velocity. Below 85% HRR no relationship existed between torso shape and running velocity. However, at 85% HRR and, more clearly, at maximum velocity, we found highly statistically significant relations between external torso shape and running performance. Among all trained subjects those with a relatively narrow, flat torso, a small thoracic kyphosis and a more pronounced lumbar lordosis achieved significantly higher running velocities. These results support the hypothesis that external trunk morphology relates to running performance. Low thoracic kyphosis with a flatter ribcage may affect positively respiratory biomechanics, while increased lordosis affects trunk posture and may be beneficial for lower limb biomechanics related to leg return. Assuming that running workload at 45–50% HRR occurs within aerobic metabolism, our results may imply that external torso shape is unrelated to the evolution of endurance running performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Bastir
- Paleoanthropology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, J.G. Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain.
| | - José María González Ruíz
- Paleoanthropology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, J.G. Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Rueda
- Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences-INEF, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gonzalo Garrido López
- Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences-INEF, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Gómez-Recio
- Paleoanthropology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, J.G. Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Benoit Beyer
- Laboratory of Functional Anatomy (LAF), Faculty of Motor Skills Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Alejandro F San Juan
- Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences-INEF, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Enrique Navarro
- Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences-INEF, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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Barash A, Belmaker M, Bastir M, Soudack M, O'Brien HD, Woodward H, Prendergast A, Barzilai O, Been E. The earliest Pleistocene record of a large-bodied hominin from the Levant supports two out-of-Africa dispersal events. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1721. [PMID: 35110601 PMCID: PMC8810791 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05712-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The paucity of early Pleistocene hominin fossils in Eurasia hinders an in-depth discussion on their paleobiology and paleoecology. Here we report on the earliest large-bodied hominin remains from the Levantine corridor: a juvenile vertebra (UB 10749) from the early Pleistocene site of 'Ubeidiya, Israel, discovered during a reanalysis of the faunal remains. UB 10749 is a complete lower lumbar vertebral body, with morphological characteristics consistent with Homo sp. Our analysis indicates that UB-10749 was a 6- to 12-year-old child at death, displaying delayed ossification pattern compared with modern humans. Its predicted adult size is comparable to other early Pleistocene large-bodied hominins from Africa. Paleobiological differences between UB 10749 and other early Eurasian hominins supports at least two distinct out-of-Africa dispersal events. This observation corresponds with variants of lithic traditions (Oldowan; Acheulian) as well as various ecological niches across early Pleistocene sites in Eurasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alon Barash
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, POB 1589, 1311502, Safed, Israel.
| | - Miriam Belmaker
- The Department of Anthropology, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, 74104, USA
| | - Markus Bastir
- Paleoanthropology Group, Department of Paleobiology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, JG Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Michalle Soudack
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Department of Pediatric Imaging, The Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Haley D O'Brien
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Science, Tulsa, USA
| | - Holly Woodward
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Science, Tulsa, USA
| | - Amy Prendergast
- School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Omry Barzilai
- Archaeological Research Department, Israel Antiquities Authority, POB 586, 91004, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ella Been
- Department of Sports Therapy, Faculty of Health Professions, Ono Academic College, Kiryat Ono, Israel.,Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
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White S, Pope M, Hillson S, Soligo C. Geometric morphometric variability in the supraorbital and orbital region of Middle Pleistocene hominins: Implications for the taxonomy and evolution of later Homo. J Hum Evol 2021; 162:103095. [PMID: 34847365 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2021.103095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
This study assessed variation in the supraorbital and orbital region of the Middle Pleistocene hominins (MPHs), sometimes called Homo heidelbergensis s.l., to test whether it matched the expectations of intraspecific variation. The morphological distinctiveness and relative variation of this region, which is relatively well represented in the hominin fossil record, was analyzed quantitatively in a comparative taxonomic framework. Coordinates of 230 3D landmarks (20) and sliding semilandmarks (210) were collected from 704 specimens from species of Homo, Australopithecus, Paranthropus, Gorilla, Pan, Papio, and Macaca. Results showed that the MPHs had expected levels of morphological distinctiveness and intragroup and intergroup variation in supraorbital and orbital morphology, relative to commonly recognized non-hominin catarrhine species. However, the Procrustes distances between this group and H. sapiens were significantly higher than expected for two closely related catarrhine species. Furthermore, this study showed that variation within the MPH could be similarly well contained within existing hypodigms of H. sapiens, H. neanderthalensis, and H. erectus s.l. Although quantitative assessment of supraorbital and orbital morphology did not allow differentiation between taxonomic hypotheses in later Homo, it could be used to test individual taxonomic affiliation and identify potentially anomalous individuals. This study confirmed a complicated pattern of supraorbital and orbital morphology in the MPH fossil record and raises further questions over our understanding of the speciation of H. sapiens and H. neanderthalensis and taxonomic diversity in later Homo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanna White
- Department of Anthropology, University College London, 14 Taviton Street, London, WC1H 0BW, UK.
| | - Matt Pope
- Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 31-34 Gordon Square, London, WC1H 0PY, UK
| | - Simon Hillson
- Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 31-34 Gordon Square, London, WC1H 0PY, UK
| | - Christophe Soligo
- Department of Anthropology, University College London, 14 Taviton Street, London, WC1H 0BW, UK
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Bastir M, Sanz-Prieto D, Burgos M. Three-dimensional form and function of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx in humans and chimpanzees. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2021; 305:1962-1973. [PMID: 34636487 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The facial differences between recent Pan troglodytes and Homo sapiens can be used as a proxy for the reduction of facial prognathism that happened during evolutionary transition between Australopithecines and early Homo. The projecting nasal morphology of Homo has been considered both a passive consequence of anatomical reorganization related to brain and integrated craniofacial evolution as well as an adaptation related to air-conditioning during physiological and behavioral shifts in human evolution. Yet, previous research suggested impaired air-conditioning in Homo challenging respiratory adaptations based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and airflow simulations. Here we improved CFD model at the inflow region and also carried out three-dimensional (3D) geometric morphometrics to address the hypothesis of impaired air-conditioning in humans and species differences in airway shape. With the new CFD model we simulated pressure, velocity, and temperature changes in airflow of six adult humans and six chimpanzees and analyzed 164 semi-landmarks of 10 humans and 10 chimpanzees for 3D size and shape comparisons. Our finding shows significantly different internal 3D nasal airways. Also, species means of pressure, velocity, and temperature differed statistically significantly. However, form-related differences in temperature exchanges seem subtle and may question adaptive disadvantages. We rather support a hypothesis of craniofacial changes in the Australopithecus-Homo transition that are related to brain evolution and craniofacial integration with facial and nasal modifications that contribute to maintain respiratory adaptations related to air conditioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Bastir
- Paleoanthropology Group, Department of Paleobiology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Sanz-Prieto
- Paleoanthropology Group, Department of Paleobiology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Ingeniería Térmica y Fluidos, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena, Spain
| | - Manuel Burgos
- Departamento de Ingeniería Térmica y Fluidos, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena, Spain
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Godinho RM, Gonçalves C. Testing the reliability of CT scan-based dental wear magnitude scoring. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2021; 176:521-527. [PMID: 34297351 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Digital models are now frequently used in biological anthropology (bioanthropology) research. Despite several studies validating this type of research, none has examined if the assessment of dental wear magnitude based on Computerized Tomography (CT) scans is reliable. Thus, this study aims to fill this gap and assess if dental wear magnitude scoring based on CT scans provides results consistent with scoring based on direct observation of the physical specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS Dental wear magnitude from 412 teeth of 35 mandibles originating from the Portuguese Muge and Sado Mesolithic shell-middens was scored. The mandibles were also CT scanned and visualized using 3D Slicer. CT scan-based scoring of dental wear magnitude was then undertaken. Two scoring rounds were undertaken for each observation method (totaling four scoring rounds) and an intra-observer error test was performed. The averaged results of the two observation methods were compared via boxplots with paired cases. RESULTS Intra-observer error was negligible and non-significant. Scoring results are comparable between the two observation methods. Notwithstanding, some differences were found, in which CT scan assessment generally overestimates dental wear when compared to direct observation. DISCUSSION Our results generally validate the use of CT scans in studies of dental wear magnitude. Notwithstanding several caveats relating to CT scanning and visualization limitations should be considered to avoid over or under-estimation of dental wear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Miguel Godinho
- Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behaviour (ICArHEB), Faculdade das Ciências Humanas e Sociais, Universidade do Algarve, Campus Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
| | - Célia Gonçalves
- Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behaviour (ICArHEB), Faculdade das Ciências Humanas e Sociais, Universidade do Algarve, Campus Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
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Comparative anatomy and 3D geometric morphometrics of the El Sidrón atlases (C1). J Hum Evol 2020; 149:102897. [PMID: 33137550 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2020.102897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The first cervical vertebra (atlas, C1) is an important element of the vertebral column because it connects the cranial base with the cervical column, thus helping to maintain head posture and contributing to neck mobility. However, few atlases are preserved in the fossil record because of the fragility of this vertebra. Consequently, only eight well-preserved atlases from adult Neandertals have been recovered and described. Here, we present nine new atlas remains from the El Sidrón Neandertal site (Asturias, Spain), two of which (SD-1643 and SD-1605/1595) are sufficiently well preserved to allow for a detailed comparative and three-dimensional geometric morphometric analysis. We compared standard linear measurements of SD-1643 and SD-1605/1595 with those of other Neandertal atlases and carried out three-dimensional geometric morphometric analyses to compare size and shape of SD-1643 and SD-1605/1595 with those of 28 Pan (Pan troglodytes and Pan paniscus), a broad comparative sample of 55 anatomically modern humans from African and European populations, and other fossil hominins (Neandertals, Homo antecessor, Paranthropus boisei). The El Sidrón atlas fossils show typical features of the Neandertal atlas morphology, such as caudal projection of the anterior tubercle, gracility of both the posterior tubercle and the tuberosity for the insertion of the transverse ligament, and an anteroposteriorly elongated neural canal. Furthermore, when compared with atlases from the other taxa, Neandertals exhibit species-specific features of atlas morphology including a relatively lower lateral mass height, relatively narrower transverse foramina, and flatter and more horizontally oriented articular facets. Some of these features fit with previous suggestions of shorter overall length of the cervical spine and potential differences in craniocervical posture and mobility. Our results may support a different spinopelvic alignment in this species, as the atlas morphology suggests reduced cervical lordosis.
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García-Martínez D, Bastir M, Gómez-Olivencia A, Maureille B, Golovanova L, Doronichev V, Akazawa T, Kondo O, Ishida H, Gascho D, Zollikofer CPE, de León MP, Heuzé Y. Early development of the Neanderthal ribcage reveals a different body shape at birth compared to modern humans. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:6/41/eabb4377. [PMID: 33028520 PMCID: PMC7541074 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abb4377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Ontogenetic studies provide clues for understanding important paleobiological aspects of extinct species. When compared to that of modern humans, the adult Neanderthal thorax was shorter, deeper, and wider. This is related to the wide Neanderthal body and is consistent with their hypothetical large requirements for energy and oxygen. Whether these differences were already established at birth or appeared later during development is unknown. To delve into this question, we use virtual reconstruction tools and geometric morphometrics to recover the 3D morphology of the ribcages of four Neanderthal individuals from birth to around 3 years old: Mezmaiskaya 1, Le Moustier 2, Dederiyeh 1, and Roc de Marsal. Our results indicate that the comparatively deep and short ribcage of the Neanderthals was already present at birth, as were other skeletal species-specific traits. This morphology possibly represents the plesiomorphic condition shared with Homo erectus, and it is likely linked to large energetic requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel García-Martínez
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, MCC, PACEA, UMR5199, Pessac, France.
- Paleobiology Department, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), Pso. Sierra de Atapuerca 3, 09002 Burgos, Spain
| | - Markus Bastir
- Paleobiology Department, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Asier Gómez-Olivencia
- Departamento de Estratigrafía y Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad del País Vasco-Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain
- Sociedad de Ciencias Aranzadi, Zorroagagaina 11, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Centro Mixto UCM-ISCIII de Investigación sobre Evolución y Comportamiento Humanos, c/ Avda. Monforte de Lemos 5 (Pabellón 14), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Bruno Maureille
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, MCC, PACEA, UMR5199, Pessac, France
| | | | | | | | - Osamu Kondo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Hajime Ishida
- Department of Human Biology and Anatomy, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan
| | - Dominic Gascho
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Yann Heuzé
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, MCC, PACEA, UMR5199, Pessac, France
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Torres-Tamayo N, Schlager S, García-Martínez D, Sanchis-Gimeno JA, Nalla S, Ogihara N, Oishi M, Martelli S, Bastir M. Three-dimensional geometric morphometrics of thorax-pelvis covariation and its potential for predicting the thorax morphology: A case study on Kebara 2 Neandertal. J Hum Evol 2020; 147:102854. [PMID: 32805525 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2020.102854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The skeletal torso is a complex structure of outstanding importance in understanding human body shape evolution, but reconstruction usually entails an element of subjectivity as researchers apply their own anatomical expertise to the process. Among different fossil reconstruction methods, 3D geometric morphometric techniques have been increasingly used in the last decades. Two-block partial least squares analysis has shown great potential for predicting missing elements by exploiting the covariation between two structures (blocks) in a reference sample: one block can be predicted from the other one based on the strength of covariation between blocks. The first aim of this study is to test whether this predictive approach can be used for predicting thorax morphologies from pelvis morphologies within adult Homo sapiens reference samples with known covariation between the thorax and the pelvis. The second aim is to apply this method to Kebara 2 Neandertal (Israel, ∼60 ka) to predict its thorax morphology using two different pelvis reconstructions as predictors. We measured 134 true landmarks, 720 curve semilandmarks, and 160 surface semilandmarks on 60 3D virtual torso models segmented from CT scans. We conducted three two-block partial least squares analyses between the thorax (block 1) and the pelvis (block 2) based on the H. sapiens reference samples after performing generalized Procrustes superimposition on each block separately. Comparisons of these predictions in full shape space by means of Procrustes distances show that the male-only predictive model yields the most reliable predictions within modern humans. In addition, Kebara 2 thorax predictions based on this model concur with the thorax morphology proposed for Neandertals. The method presented here does not aim to replace other techniques, but to rather complement them through quantitative prediction of a virtual 'scaffold' to articulate the thoracic fossil elements, thus extending the potential of missing data estimation beyond the methods proposed in previous works.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Torres-Tamayo
- Paleoanthropology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), J.G. Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain; GIAVAL Research Group, Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology, University of Valencia, Av. Blasco Ibanez, 15, E-46010, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Stefan Schlager
- Biological Anthropology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hebelstr 29, D-79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Daniel García-Martínez
- Paleoanthropology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), J.G. Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain; Centro Nacional de Investigación Sobre La Evolución Humana (CENIEH), Avenida de La Sierra de Atapuerca 3, 09002, Burgos, Spain
| | - Juan Alberto Sanchis-Gimeno
- GIAVAL Research Group, Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology, University of Valencia, Av. Blasco Ibanez, 15, E-46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Shahed Nalla
- Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, 2006, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Naomichi Ogihara
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Motoharu Oishi
- Laboratory of Anatomy 1, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan
| | - Sandra Martelli
- UCL Centre for Integrative Anatomy (CIA), Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT, London, UK
| | - Markus Bastir
- Paleoanthropology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), J.G. Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain
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