A Comparison of the Krapina Lower Facial Remains to an Ontogenetic Series of Neandertal Fossils

The Krapina facial remains are associated with the Neandertals based on a number of descriptive morphological traits, but the degree to which these fossils correspond to the morphology of other Neandertals has largely been assumed rather than explicitly examined. One reason initially was the dearth of an ontogenetic series of Neandertal nonadults. Since Gorjanović- Kramberger discovered Krapina over100 years ago, additional Neandertal fossils in Israel, France, Belgium, Italy and Uzbekistan have been recovered. Here the Krapina remains are compared to a large ontogenetic series of Neandertal adults, subadults, juveniles and infants (n = 41). Growth trajectories of Neandertal lower facial traits are used to assess the absolute growth of traits at Krapina. Principal components analyses, done separately for the lower maxilla and mandible, demonstrate some relationships between Krapina fossils and other Neandertals based on multiple traits. The results demonstrate that, compared to other Neandertals, Krapina nonadults exhibit long palates, and adults exhibit both tall and short mandibular symphyses, thickened mandibular corpora, short to mid-range ascending rami and relatively long mandibles. The alveolar process and lower piriform aperture are within the range of other Neandertals. The remains at Krapina record important growth signals characterizing late juvenile and subadult Neandertal ontogeny–life cycle stages that are largely absent from the Neandertal fossil record

Cambios degenerativos articulares de la columna torácica con respecto al sexo y la edad

The thoracic spine manifests degenerative changes from aging, obesity, repetitive strain and occupational stress, although sex differences are poorly understood. In this work we examine whether differences in the expression of thoracic degenerative joint changes can be found in females and males with respect to age. The two age groups included in the study are older adults between 50 and 55 years and elderly individuals between 70-75 years from the William M. Bass osteological collection of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (USA). The first interval represents the onset of skeletal decline. The second is correlated with reduced mobility and an increase in arthritic pain. The thoracic vertebrae from 99 individuals (52 females and 47 males) were macroscopically examined on superior and inferior centra and zygapophyses for lipping, porosity and eburnation following Buikstra and Ubelaker’s (1994) scoring system. Elderly females and males exhibit a higher severity of degenerative changes than older adults, and in males the degree of lipping was extreme. Regarding older adults, males present a greater severity of lipping, extent of lipping, porosity, and extent of porosity than females. However, females show a greater degree of eburnation among older adults, particularly in the lower thoracic vertebrae. When elderly adults are compared, males express a higher degree of lipping, extent of lipping and extent of porosity than females. Like their older adult counterparts, elderly females show evidence of a greater severity in eburnation than males, suggesting hormonal profile disruption associated with reproductive cessation as well as occupational stress, may also cause the deterioration of the intervertebral discs, particularly in the lower thoracic skeleton.La columna vertebral torácica manifiesta cambios degenerativos por envejecimiento, obesidad, actividad repetitiva y estrés ocupacional, aunque las diferencias por sexo son poco conocidas. Examinamos si existen diferencias en la expresión de los cambios articulares degenerativos en las vértebras torácicas en mujeres y hombres con respecto a la edad. Los dos grupos de edad incluidos en el análisis corresponden a adultos maduros entre 50 y 55 años y entre 70 y 75 años pertenecientes a la colección osteológica William M. Bass de la Universidad de Tennessee, Knoxville (EEUU). El primer intervalo representa el inicio del declive esqueletal, mientras que el segundo está relacionado con una movilidad reducida y un aumento en el dolor articular. Se examinaron macroscópicamente las vértebras torácicas de 99 individuos (52 mujeres y 47 hombres) en las articulaciones superiores e inferiores de los cuerpos y en las zigapófisis, relevando la presencia de osteofitos, porosidad y eburnación según el sistema de puntuación no métrico de Buikstra y Ubelaker (1994). Tanto los individuos femeninos como los masculinos de mayor edad presentan una mayor severidad en los cambios degenerativos que los adultos mayores, y para los hombres el grado de osteofítos fue extremo. Para los adultos mayores, los hombres presentan una mayor severidad de osteofítos, extensión de osteofítos, porosidad y extensión de la porosidad, que las mujeres. Sin embargo, las mujeres presentan un mayor grado de eburnación, particularmente en las vértebras torácicas inferiores. Cuando se comparan los adultos mayores, los hombres expresan un mayor grado de osteofitosis, extensión de osteofitos y extensión de la porosidad, que las mujeres. Al igual que sus contrapartes de mayor edad, las mujeres adultas maduras muestran evidencia de una mayor severidad en eburnación que los hombres, lo que sugiere que la alteración del perfil hormonal asociada con el cese reproductivo de las mujeres, así como el estrés ocupacional, pueden afectar el deterioro de los discos intervertebrales, particularmente en el esqueleto torácico inferior.Asociación de Antropología Biológica Argentin

Craniofacial pathologies in an early adolescent from the Funnel Beaker site of Modřice, Czechia

Several craniofacial pathologies are present in an early adolescent from a cemetery (n = 22) associated with a Neolithic Funnel Beaker culture in Modřice, Czechia.The objective of the study was to document anomalies on the Modřice 3871 cranium, with an emphasis on investigating whether the mid-sagittal suture exhibited synostosis or bridging to account for the visible scaphocephaly.All available cranial and postcranial elements of the Modřice 3871 early adolescent were examined macroscopically. The cranial vault was subjected to radiography and compared to macroscopic views.Modřice 3871 is estimated to age to 12–14 years. Macroscopic examination and radiography support a diagnosis of mid-sagittal bridging rather than synostosis for this slender and anteroposteriorly elongated cranium. In comparison, the anterior sagittal, coronal and lambdoidal sutures are completely unfused. Craniofacial asymmetry, cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis of the temporal and the presence of multiple wormian bones indicate additional maturational disruptions.The scaphocephaly observed in Modřice 3871 is not severe compared to modern clinical manifestations of craniosynostosis. Radiocarbon dated to 3,700–3,600 years BCE, Modřice 3871 presents one of the oldest recorded cases of scaphocephaly. The elongated vault is probably not the result of head-binding given the dearth of anthropogenic cranial reshaping in the Neolithic of Europe. This study adds to the growing recognition of prehistoric and historic craniofacial anomalies which will likely continue as additional human remains are excavated. In addition, the study increases the understanding of the lived experience of prehistoric individuals experiencing visible craniofacial pathologies such as cranial asymmetry and scaphocephaly

The diet of young Neandertals from France, Pech de l’Azé I and Hortus II, reconstructed using dental microwear texture analysis

Les adultes néandertaliens présentent des différences de régime alimentaire en fonction de leur paléohabitat. Nous examinons si les jeunes enfants néandertaliens de France datant du stade isotopique marins 3 montrent également ces distinctions alimentaires à partir de l’étude de la texture des micro-usures dentaires des deuxièmes molaires déciduales des individus Pech de l’Azé I, datant d’une phase froide-tempérée, et Hortus II, datant d’une phase froid-aride extrême. L’échantillon comparatif (n=76) comprend des molaires déciduales d’agriculteurs-cueilleurs provenant de trois grottes néolithiques de Belgique, dont Caverne de la Cave à Maurenne (n=5), Sclaigneaux (n=7) et Bois Madame (n=6), ainsi que des agriculteurs de l’époque romaine d’Herculanum (n=15) et médiévaux de Canterbury, Angleterre (n=43). Lorsque la complexité est comparée à l’anisotropie, Pech de l’Azé I présente une valeur élevée provenant de la mastication de plantes à parties dures ou de particules adhérentes, ou de la consommation d’aliments mal transformés ou chargés de silicates abrasifs. En revanche, Hortus II a une valeur faible, peut-être en raison de l’accès limité aux parties dures des plantes comme les graines et les noix. Toutefois, Pech de l’Azé I et Hortus II se ressemblent en présentant une faible valeur d’anisotropie qui est révélatrice de mouvements complexes des mâchoires lors de la mastication et sont différents des enfants humains néolithiques, romains et médiévaux qui ont tendance à avoir des valeurs plus élevées. Les régimes alimentaires des enfants néandertaliens diffèrent en fonction du paléohabitat et sont généralement plus diversifiés que ceux des producteurs d’aliments, qu’ils habitent des environnements boisés ou ouverts.Neandertal adults show differences in diet with respect to paleohabitat. To examine whether Neandertal children of France during Marine Isotope Stage 3 also show these dietary distinctions, the deciduous second molars of Pech de l’Azé I, from a cold-temperate period, and Hortus II from Sub-Phase Vb, an extreme cold-arid interval, were examined using dental microwear texture analysis. The comparative sample (n=76) includes deciduous molars from Neolithic forager-farmers of Belgium, including Caverne de la Cave at Maurenne (n=5), Sclaigneaux (n=7) and Bois Madame (n=6), Roman-era farmers from Herculaneum (n=15) and Medieval agriculturalists from Canterbury, England (n=43). When complexity is compared to anisotropy, Pech de l’Azé I exhibits an elevated value from the mastication of plants with hard parts or adherent particles, or the consumption of foods that were poorly processed or grit-laden, whereas Hortus II presents a low value, perhaps from limited access to hard plant parts such as seeds and nuts. However, Pech de l’Azé I and Hortus II resemble each other in having a low value for anisotropy, which is indicative of complicated movements of the jaws during mastication and are dissimilar to Neolithic, Roman and Medieval human children who tend to have higher values. The diets of Neandertal children differ with respect to paleohabitat and typically were more diverse than those of food producers regardless of whether they inhabited wooded or open environments

The Influence of Manga on the Graphic Novel

This material has been published in The Cambridge History of the Graphic Novel edited by Jan Baetens, Hugo Frey, Stephen E. Tabachnick. This version is free to view and download for personal use only. Not for re-distribution, re-sale or use in derivative works. © Cambridge University PressProviding a range of cogent examples, this chapter describes the influences of the Manga genre of comics strip on the Graphic Novel genre, over the last 35 years, considering the functions of domestication, foreignisation and transmedia on readers, markets and forms

Comparing maxillary first molar crown shape using elliptical Fourier analysis in the Late Neolithic cave burials of Belgium

The Belgian Meuse karstic basin holds more than 200 Late Neolithic collective burials. Four of the largest include Hastière Caverne M, Hastière Trou Garçon C, Sclaigneaux and Bois Madame. The remains from these caves are commingled and fragmentary. However, in situ maxillary molars are well preserved permitting an investigation of molar crown shape within and across sites

Comparison of maxillary first molar occlusal outlines of Neandertals from the Meuse River Basin of Belgium using elliptical Fourier analysis

Several Neandertals derive from the karstic caves of the Meuse river tributaries of Belgium, including Engis 2, Scladina 4A-4 and Spy 1. These may form a group that is distinct in maxillary first molar occlusal outlines compared to La Quina 5 from Southwest France. Alternatively, chronological differences may separate individuals given that Scladina 4A-4 from MIS 5 is older than the others from MIS 3. Neolithic samples (n = 42) from Belgium (Maurenne Caverne de la Cave, Hastière Caverne M, Hastière Trou Garçon, Sclaigneaux and Bois Madame) dated to 4.6–3.9 kyr provide a context for the Neandertals. Dental casts were prepared from dental impressions of the original maxillary molars. Crown and occlusal areas as well as mesiodistal lengths were measured by calibrated Motic 3.0 microscope cameras. Occlusal outlines of the casts were captured through photostereomicroscopy and non-landmark smooth tracing methods. Occlusal outlines were processed using elliptical Fourier analysis within SHAPE v1.3 which reduced amplitudes of the harmonics into principal components (PC) axes. The first two PC axes group the Neandertals, although Scladina 4A-4 falls nearly outside the convex hull for the Neolithic sample. Neandertals are imperfectly separated from the Neolithic sample on PC3 and PC4, and completely distinct on PC5 and PC6. Scladina 4A-4 differs from the other Neandertals on most PC axes. Chronology may best explain the separation of Scladina 4A-4 from the more recent fossils, and particularly Spy 1 and La Quina 5 which are the most similar in maxillary first molar occlusal outline shape

Dental microwear texture analysis of Neandertals from Hortus cave, France

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