Jbel Irhoud, une avancée paléoanthropologi que décisive

International audiencehe fossilized remains of 5 individuals discovered in the site of Jebel Irhoud are dated around 300 ka. These fossils belong to the oldest representatives of the species Homo sapiens known to date. Their age is 100,000 years older than that of the oldest Homo sapiens so far described and are associated with Middle Pleistocene faunal remains. The fauna is varied and typical of an open environment. It includes more than 3 0 mammalian taxa with a predominance of gazelles. The lithic assemblage can be assigned to an early stage of the Middle Stone Age. Technical innovations marking the spread of these industries over the African continent are most likely related to the pan-African expansion of the first forms of Homo sapien

The relevance of late MSA mandibles on the emergence of modern morphology in Northern Africa

North Africa is a key area for understanding hominin population movements and the expansion of our species. It is home to the earliest currently known Homo sapiens (Jebel Irhoud) and several late Middle Stone Age (MSA) fossils, notably Kébibat, Contrebandiers 1, Dar-es-Soltane II H5 and El Harhoura. Mostly referred to as “Aterian” they fill a gap in the North African fossil record between Jebel Irhoud and Iberomaurusians. We explore morphological continuity in this region by quantifying mandibular shape using 3D (semi)landmark geometric morphometric methods in a comparative framework of late Early and Middle Pleistocene hominins (n = 15), Neanderthals (n = 27) and H. sapiens (n = 145). We discovered a set of mixed features among late MSA fossils that is in line with an accretion of modern traits through time and an ongoing masticatory gracilization process. In Northern Africa, Aterians display similarities to Iberomaurusians and recent humans in the area as well as to the Tighenif and Thomas Quarry hominins, suggesting a greater time depth for regional continuity than previously assumed. The evidence we lay out for a long-term succession of hominins and humans emphasizes North Africa’s role as source area of the earliest H. sapiens

New fossils from Jebel Irhoud, Morocco and the pan-African origin of Homo sapiens

Fossil evidence points to an African origin of Homo sapiens from a group called either H. heidelbergensis or H. rhodesiensis. However, the exact place and time of emergence of H. sapiens remain obscure because the fossil record is scarce and the chronological age of many key specimens remains uncertain. In particular, it is unclear whether the present day ‘modern’ morphology rapidly emerged approximately 200 thousand years ago (ka) among earlier representatives of H. sapiens1 or evolved gradually over the last 400 thousand years2. Here we report newly discovered human fossils from Jebel Irhoud, Morocco, and interpret the affinities of the hominins from this site with other archaic and recent human groups. We identified a mosaic of features including facial, mandibular and dental morphology that aligns the Jebel Irhoud material with early or recent anatomically modern humans and more primitive neurocranial and endocranial morphology. In combination with an age of 315?±?34 thousand years (as determined by thermoluminescence dating)3, this evidence makes Jebel Irhoud the oldest and richest African Middle Stone Age hominin site that documents early stages of the H. sapiens clade in which key features of modern morphology were established. Furthermore, it shows that the evolutionary processes behind the emergence of H. sapiens involved the whole African continent

La quantification par pesée : application à l'archéologie funéraire. L'exemple du gisement d'Eybral (Dordogne)

Ben-Ncer A. La quantification par pesée : application à l'archéologie funéraire. L'exemple du gisement d'Eybral (Dordogne). In: Bulletins et Mémoires de la Société d'anthropologie de Paris, Nouvelle Série. Tome 2 fascicule 3-4, 1990. pp. 51-54

Inner ear modifications in Dar-es-Soltane II H5 (Morocco): A case of labyrinthitis ossificans

Abstract Objective This paper presents the inner ear modifications in Dar-es-Soltane II H5, an Aterian fossil possibly dated to 100 ka. Material The remains consist of a large portion of the cranium including the face, the left frontal and temporal bones, part of the left parietal bone and greater wing of the sphenoid. Methods The bony labyrinth anatomy was investigated on existing micro-CT data acquired by the MPI-EVA. Results The observation of micro-CT sections revealed a partial filling of the semi-circular canals that raises question about its origin. A careful examination of the micro-CT sections shows that the elements present in the semicircular canals were denser than the sediments observed in other regions and cavities of the temporal bone. Conclusions The current evidence suggests a pathological origin of this condition with partial ossification of the membranous labyrinth. The differential diagnosis indicates a case of labyrinthitis ossificans in its early stages. Significance This pathological condition can be responsible for permanent hearing loss and is associated with dizziness and vertigo. Along with the Singa skull, Dar-es-Soltane II H5 represents one of the oldest known cases of labyrinthitis ossificans. Limitations The early stage of disease and the absence of the right temporal bone limit conclusions about the degree of disability of the individual and their dependence on the rest of the group. Suggestions for further research To carry out a paleopathological study of all the fossils from Dar-es-Soltane II

Pollution impact on the ancient ramparts of the Moroccan city Salé

The work focuses on the investigation of air pollutant impacts on the ancient ramparts of the Moroccan city of Salé, part of the Project TeACH (Technologies and tools to prioritize assessment and diagnosis of air pollution impact on immovable and movable cultural heritage), which set out to understand the different types of deterioration due to pollution impact on cultural heritage in diverse sites. The part of the walls studied is the Burĝ al Klāb (Bastion of dogs) tower, also known as the Gate Tower, as an example of a monument in the Mediterranean Basin, built in calcarenite and exposed to a polluted environment, especially traffic. The complete characterization of the surface damage layer forming on the Burĝ al Klāb was performed by a range of analytical techniques, including optical and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, ion chromatography and induced coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. The results showed that the main damage factor is the deposition of atmospheric sulphur compounds, and sea salts and particles from combustion processes. The deposition of SO2 and marine aerosols effects in formation of new minerals, such as gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O), halite (NaCl) and thenardite (Na2SO4) and other hydrated forms of sodium sulphates. The octagonal shape of tower and different exposition of walls to traffic roads was reflected in the results from the analyses. A decrease in lightness L* was measured passing from more protected walls to those more exposed to traffic. Sulphate, nitrate and organic carbon were also found in higher concentrations in the samples collected from the walls directly exposed to traffic. The high amount of Ca2+ is ascribed to the calcium carbonate-rich substrate, to soil dust re-suspension and subsequent deposition onto the building surface, as well as to the long-range air mass intrusions from the Sahara. The traffic in the proximity of Tower is not only responsible for particle emissions but also for the re-suspension of dry deposited road traffic emissions and soil dust