First Early Hominin from Central Africa (Ishango, Democratic Republic of Congo)

Despite uncontested evidence for fossils belonging to the early hominin genus Australopithecus in East Africa from at least 4.2 million years ago (Ma), and from Chad by 3.5 Ma, thus far there has been no convincing evidence of Australopithecus, Paranthropus or early Homo from the western (Albertine) branch of the Rift Valley. Here we report the discovery of an isolated upper molar (#Ish25) from the Western Rift Valley site of Ishango in Central Africa in a derived context, overlying beds dated to between ca. 2.6 to 2.0 Ma. We used µCT imaging to compare its external and internal macro-morphology to upper molars of australopiths, and fossil and recent Homo. We show that the size and shape of the enamel-dentine junction (EDJ) surface discriminate between Plio-Pleistocene and post-Lower Pleistocene hominins, and that the Ishango molar clusters with australopiths and early Homo from East and southern Africa. A reassessment of the archaeological context of the specimen is consistent with the morphological evidence and suggest that early hominins were occupying this region by at least 2 Ma

The three oralTori in the Coimbra population (Portugal) at the beginning of the XXth century A.D.

The remarkable anthropological series formed by E. Tamagnini at the Universidade de Coimbra consists of the exhumed human remains from “La Conchada” cemetery, in Coimbra (Northern Portugal). From this collection, only those individuals coming from the different districts of Coimbra, where they also lived and died, were selected for study. The resulting series was made of by 483 individuals: 234 women and 249 men. The personal data sheets indicate that these people died between 1910 and 1938; their professions, age at death and its cause are also noted. They can be considered as a relatively homogeneous group of low socioeconomical level. The study of the three oraltori demonstrated the high frequencies of all of them, the absence of sexual dimorphism and only a few statistically significant differences between some of the age classes considered. The possible etiological factors (genetical and/or environmental) are also discussed

Les inhumations chasséennes du Pirou et de Vigne de Bioaux (Valros, Hérault) : un recrutement spécifique en contexte d’habitat ?

International audienceThe Middle Neolithic sites of Le Pirou and La Vigne de Bioaux in Valros (Herault, southern France) are less than 300 m apart. Both can be attributed to the early Chassean culture (4300–4100 BC). Excavations in the former site revealed more than 150 domestic pits, 7 of which contained single burials. The latter site revealed about fifteen domestic pits, including one single burial. Thanks to the close proximity between the burials and the domestic area and to the various multidisciplinary studies under way; we were able to cross-analyse the datasets to investigate the status of the individuals buried in pits used for domestic purposes. Anthropological and isotopic analyses enabled us to characterise the eight individuals and to contribute new points of discussion on Chassean burials in domestic contexts. Despite the small number of individuals, the anthropological data brought out the particularities of these individuals, all female, and the heterogeneousness of the metric data. Isotopic analyses (δ13C, δ15N) of the human and animal remains were compared, from a paleo diet and a paleo behavioural perspective, with the results of recent discoveries in the region. The anthropological and isotopic data have showed the very heterogeneous nature of the buried individuals, prompting discussions on how this group has formed and buried in these graves in the Le Pirou and La Vigne de Bioaux sites. This study also highlights the need to pursue discussions on small-sized groups in order to fully understand the diversity off unerary practices of the southern Chassean, and the putative correlation between the social status of individuals and their funerary treatment.Les sites néolithiques moyens du Pirou et de la Vigne de Bioaux à Valros (Hérault, France) sont distants de moins de 300 m. Ils sont tous deux attribuables à la phase ancienne de la culture chasséenne (4300–4100 av. J.-C.). Le premier regroupait plus de 150 structures excavées dont sept contenaient des inhumations individuelles. Le second a livré une quinzaine de fosses dont une contenait une inhumation individuelle. La mise en évidence d’une proximité étroite entre les inhumations et l’espace domestique ainsi que les différentes études pluridisciplinaires engagées offrent l’occasiondecroiserunensemblededonnéespermettantd’interroger le statut des individus inhumés en fosses domestiques réemployées. L’analyse anthropologique et isotopique a, ainsi, permis de caractériser les huit individus et d’apporter de nouveaux éléments de discussion relatifs au phénomène des inhumations chasséennes en contexte d’habitat. Malgré la taille de l’effectif, les données anthropologiques ont montré la particularité de ces sujets, tous féminins, et l’hétérogénéité des données métriques. Des analyses isotopiques (δ13C, δ15N) menées sur les restes humains et animaux ont été confrontées aux résultats de découvertes regionals récentes dans une perspective paléoalimentaire et paléocomportementale. Les données anthropologiques et isotopiques montrent, ainsi, une hétérogénéité très importante des défunts,quipermetd’interrogerlesmodalitésdeconstitution de ce groupe d’individus. Cette étude souligne la nécessité de poursuivre les discussions également sur des effectifs faibles si l’on veut comprendre toute la diversité des pratiques funéraires existant durant le Chasséen méridional ainsi que la corrélation qui pourrait exister entre le statut social des sujets et le traitement funéraire dont ils font l’objet

Early Medieval Muslim Graves in France: First Archaeological, Anthropological and Palaeogenomic Evidence

International audienceThe rapid Arab-Islamic conquest during the early Middle Ages led to major political and cultural changes in the Mediterranean world. Although the early medieval Muslim presence in the Iberian Peninsula is now well documented, based in the evaluation of archeological and historical sources, the Muslim expansion in the area north of the Pyrenees has only been documented so far through textual sources or rare archaeological data. Our study provides the first archaeo-anthropological testimony of the Muslim establishment in South of France through the multidisciplinary analysis of three graves excavated at Nimes. First, we argue in favor of burials that followed Islamic rites and then note the presence of a community practicing Muslim traditions in Nimes. Second, the radiometric dates obtained from all three human skeletons (between the 7th and the 9th centuries AD) echo historical sources documenting an early Muslim presence in southern Gaul (i.e., the first half of 8th century AD). Finally, palaeogenomic analyses conducted on the human remains provide arguments in favor of a North African ancestry of the three individuals, at least considering the paternal lineages. Given all of these data, we propose that the skeletons from the Nimes burials belonged to Berbers integrated into the Umayyad army during the Arab expansion in North Africa. Our discovery not only discusses the first anthropological and genetic data concerning the Muslim occupation of the Visigothic territory of Septimania but also highlights the complexity of the relationship between the two communities during this period