Jean-Jacques Hublin - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Jean-Jacques Hublin
Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology, 2007
Archives of Oral Biology, 2006
Modern human molar enamel thickness and enamel-dentine junction shape 975 values reported for fos... more Modern human molar enamel thickness and enamel-dentine junction shape 975 values reported for fossil apes and humans, suggesting limited taxonomic value when considered alone.
American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 2008
Absolutely thick molar enamel is consistent with large body size estimates and dietary inferences... more Absolutely thick molar enamel is consistent with large body size estimates and dietary inferences about Gigantopithecus blacki, which focus on tough or fibrous vegetation. In this study, 10 G. blacki molars demonstrating various stages of attrition were imaged using high‐resolution microtomography. Three‐dimensional average enamel thickness and relative enamel thickness measurements were recorded on the least worn molars within the sample (n = 2). Seven molars were also virtually sectioned through the mesial cusps and two‐dimensional enamel thickness and dentine horn height measurements were recorded. Gigantopithecus has the thickest enamel of any fossil or extant primate in terms of absolute thickness. Relative (size‐scaled) measures of enamel thickness, however, support a thick characterization (i.e., not “hyper‐thick”); G. blacki relative enamel thickness overlaps slightly with Pongo and completely with Homo. Gigantopithecus blacki dentine horns are relatively short, similar to (...
Scientific Reports, 2020
The Micoquian is the broadest and longest enduring cultural facies of the Late Middle Palaeolithi... more The Micoquian is the broadest and longest enduring cultural facies of the Late Middle Palaeolithic that spread across the periglacial and boreal environments of Europe between Eastern France, Poland, and Northern Caucasus. Here, we present new data from the archaeological record of Stajnia Cave (Poland) and the paleogenetic analysis of a Neanderthal molar S5000, found in a Micoquian context. Our results demonstrate that the mtDNA genome of Stajnia S5000 dates to MIS 5a making the tooth the oldest Neanderthal specimen from Central-Eastern Europe. Furthermore, S5000 mtDNA has the fewest number of differences to mtDNA of Mezmaiskaya 1 Neanderthal from Northern Caucasus, and is more distant from almost contemporaneous Neanderthals of Scladina and Hohlenstein-Stadel. This observation and the technological affinity between Poland and the Northern Caucasus could be the result of increased mobility of Neanderthals that changed their subsistence strategy for coping with the new low biomass e...
Bulletins et mémoires de la société d'anthropologie de Paris, 2005
Qui est l'artisan de l'Aurignacien ancien ? Ré-examen des restes dentaires de Brassempouy
Paléo, 2011
Äëíê~Åí=W=Here we present a virtual skull reconstruction of the Le Moustier 2 neonate based on hi... more Äëíê~Åí=W=Here we present a virtual skull reconstruction of the Le Moustier 2 neonate based on high-resolution computed tomographic data of the delicate original fragments. In the first step, the digital fragments were assembled based on anatomical criteria. If parts were missing on one side, or were better preserved on one side than the other, we used the software Avizo to reflect them across a midsagittal symmetry plane. Missing parts of the braincase were estimated based on complete reference crania using geometric morphometrics, so as to estimate endocranial volume (EV). When we compare our reconstruction of Le Moustier 2 to modern human neonates, we find that many morphological characteristics that separate Neandertal adults from modern human adults are already established at the time of birth. Neandertal features can already be detected in the shape of the orbit, the projection of the midface, the relative size and shape of the nose, the nasal bones, and the shape of the mandibular notch. The shape differences between Le Moustier 2 and modern human neonates in the cranial base are extremely subtle. Around the time of birth modern humans and Neandertals have very similar endocranial shapes and volumes. Our EV estimates for Le Moustier 2 range between 408-428 cc. Our reconstruction of Le Moustier 2 shows that most facial differences between modern humans and Neandertals develop prenatally as they are already established at the time of birth. Most shape differences in the braincase between modern humans and Neandertals, however, develop after birth. Our reconstruction of Le Moustier 2 therefore supports the notion that modern humans and Neandertals reach similar adult endocranial capacity through different postnatal ontogenetic pathways.
Current Biology, 2018
Highlights d We use fossil skull data to derive an index of endocranial shape in human MRI scans ... more Highlights d We use fossil skull data to derive an index of endocranial shape in human MRI scans d In 4,468 Europeans, we screen introgressed Neandertal SNPs for association with the index d Lead SNPs consistently associate with reduced globularity in five separate subsamples d These SNPs affect neural expression of two genes linked to neurogenesis and myelination
Proceedings. Biological sciences, Jan 11, 2018
Three adaptive hypotheses have been forwarded to explain the distinctive Neanderthal face: (i) an... more Three adaptive hypotheses have been forwarded to explain the distinctive Neanderthal face: (i) an improved ability to accommodate high anterior bite forces, (ii) more effective conditioning of cold and/or dry air and, (iii) adaptation to facilitate greater ventilatory demands. We test these hypotheses using three-dimensional models of Neanderthals, modern humans, and a close outgroup (), applying finite-element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). This is the most comprehensive application of either approach applied to date and the first to include both. FEA reveals few differences between , modern humans, and Neanderthals in their capacities to sustain high anterior tooth loadings. CFD shows that the nasal cavities of Neanderthals and especially modern humans condition air more efficiently than does that of , suggesting that both evolved to better withstand cold and/or dry climates than less derived We further find that Neanderthals could move considerably more ai...
Journal of anatomy, Jan 18, 2017
Evolutionary studies of mammalian teeth have generally concentrated on the adaptive and functiona... more Evolutionary studies of mammalian teeth have generally concentrated on the adaptive and functional significance of dental features, whereas the role of development on phenotypic generation and as a source of variation has received comparatively little attention. The present study combines an evolutionary biological framework with state-of-the-art imaging techniques to examine the developmental basis of variation of accessory cusps. Scholars have long used the position and relatedness of cusps to other crown structures as a criterion for differentiating between developmentally homologous and homoplastic features, which can be evaluated with greater accuracy at the enamel-dentine junction (EDJ). Following this approach, we collected digital models of the EDJ and outer enamel surface of more than 1000 hominoid teeth to examine whether cusp 5 of the upper molars (UM C5) and cusps 6 and 7 of the lower molars (LM C6 and LM C7) were associated each with a common developmental origin across...
Journal of human evolution, 2016
South African hominin fossils attributed to Australopithecus africanus derive from the cave sites... more South African hominin fossils attributed to Australopithecus africanus derive from the cave sites of Makapansgat, Sterkfontein, and Taung, from deposits dated between about 2 and 3 million years ago (Ma), while Paranthropus robustus is known from Drimolen, Kromdraai, and Swartkrans, from deposits dated between about 1 and 2 Ma. Although variation in the premolar root complex has informed taxonomic and phylogenetic hypotheses for these fossil hominin species, traditionally there has been a focus on external root form, number, and position. In this study, we use microtomography to undertake the first comprehensive study of maxillary and mandibular premolar root and canal variation in Australopithecus africanus and Paranthropus robustus (n = 166 teeth) within and between the species. We also test for correlations between premolar size and root morphology as predicted under the 'size/number continuum' (SNC) model, which correlates increasing root number with tooth size. Our resu...
Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française, 2011
Un outillage lithique acheuléen, une riche faune du Pléistocène moyen et quatre dents d'hominidés... more Un outillage lithique acheuléen, une riche faune du Pléistocène moyen et quatre dents d'hominidés ont été extraites du remplissage de la cavité de la carrière Thomas I, célèbre depuis la découverte en 1969 d'une hémimandibule humaine. Depuis 1988, des fouilles sont conduites dans ce site dans le cadre du programme franco-marocain «Casablanca ». Une riche faune mammalienne et quelques restes de reptiles et d'oiseaux sont associés à l'industrie lithique dans l'unité stratigraphique 4. La faune, introduite par les carnivores, indique un paysage peu boisé et le stade évolutif des divers taxons suggère un âge plus récent que celui de Tighenif (Algérie). Les marques de découpe sont absentes, ce qui pose la question du rôle des hominidés dans l'accumulation des restes fauniques. Le travail de la pierre était orienté vers la production d'éclats et de rares bifaces ont été introduits dans cette partie du site. Quatre dents humaines ont été exhumées entre 1994 et 2005. La datation ICP-MS par ablation laser combinant l'ESR et les séries de l'Uranium pour modéliser l'enrichissement en Uranium a été appliquée à une prémolaire humaine : elle a fourni un âge de 501 k a. De nouvelles mesures d'âge par OSL sur les sédiments encadrant la dent datée ont respectivement donné 420 ± 34 ka au dessus et 391 ± 32 ka en dessous confirmant un âge minimum centré sur une période relativement ancienne du Pléistocène moyen.
Nature, Jan 25, 2016
The variation in molar tooth size in humans and our closest relatives (hominins) has strongly inf... more The variation in molar tooth size in humans and our closest relatives (hominins) has strongly influenced our view of human evolution. The reduction in overall size and disproportionate decrease in third molar size have been noted for over a century, and have been attributed to reduced selection for large dentitions owing to changes in diet or the acquisition of cooking. The systematic pattern of size variation along the tooth row has been described as a 'morphogenetic gradient' in mammal, and more specifically hominin, teeth since Butler and Dahlberg. However, the underlying controls of tooth size have not been well understood, with hypotheses ranging from morphogenetic fields to the clone theory. In this study we address the following question: are there rules that govern how hominin tooth size evolves? Here we propose that the inhibitory cascade, an activator-inhibitor mechanism that affects relative tooth size in mammals, produces the default pattern of tooth sizes for al...
Scientific Reports, 2015
Prehistoric dental treatments were extremely rare and the few documented cases are known from the... more Prehistoric dental treatments were extremely rare and the few documented cases are known from the Neolithic, when the adoption of early farming culture caused an increase of carious lesions. Here we report the earliest evidence of dental caries intervention on a Late Upper Palaeolithic modern human specimen (Villabruna) from a burial in Northern Italy. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy we show the presence of striations deriving from the manipulation of a large occlusal carious cavity of the lower right third molar. The striations have a “V”-shaped transverse section and several parallel micro-scratches at their base, as typically displayed by cutmarks on teeth. Based on in vitro experimental replication and a complete functional reconstruction of the Villabruna dental arches, we confirm that the identified striations and the associated extensive enamel chipping on the mesial wall of the cavity were produced ante-mortem by pointed flint tools during scratching and levering activiti...
Journal of Human Evolution, 2015
The version in the Kent Academic Repository may differ from the final published version. Users ar... more The version in the Kent Academic Repository may differ from the final published version. Users are advised to check http://kar.kent.ac.uk for the status of the paper. Users should always cite the published version of record.
Quaternary International, 2010
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2008
Paleogenomic research has shown that modern humans, Neanderthals, and their most recent common an... more Paleogenomic research has shown that modern humans, Neanderthals, and their most recent common ancestor have displayed less genetic diversity than living great apes. The traditional interpretation that low levels of genetic diversity in modern humans resulted from a relatively recent demographic bottleneck cannot account for similarly low levels of genetic diversity in Middle Pleistocene hominins. A more parsimonious hypothesis proposes that the effective population size of the human lineage has been low for more than 500,000 years, but the mechanism responsible for suppressing genetic diversity in Pleistocene hominin populations without similarly affecting that of their hominoid contemporaries remains unknown. Here we use agent-based simulation to study the effect of culturally mediated migration on neutral genetic diversity in structured populations. We show that, in populations structured by culturally mediated migration, selection can suppress neutral genetic diversity over thou...
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2007
The evolution of life history (pace of growth and reproduction) was crucial to ancient hominin ad... more The evolution of life history (pace of growth and reproduction) was crucial to ancient hominin adaptations. The study of dental development facilitates assessment of growth and development in fossil hominins with greater precision than other skeletal analyses. During tooth formation, biological rhythms manifest in enamel and dentine, creating a permanent record of growth rate and duration. Quantification of these internal and external incremental features yields developmental benchmarks, including ages at crown completion, tooth eruption, and root completion. Molar eruption is correlated with other aspects of life history. Recent evidence for developmental differences between modern humans and Neanderthals remains ambiguous. By measuring tooth formation in the entire dentition of a juvenile Neanderthal from Scladina, Belgium, we show that most teeth formed over a shorter time than in modern humans and that dental initiation and eruption were relatively advanced. By registering manif...
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2009
Childbirth is complicated in humans relative to other primates. Unlike the situation in great ape... more Childbirth is complicated in humans relative to other primates. Unlike the situation in great apes, human neonates are about the same size as the birth canal, making passage difficult. The birth mechanism (the series of rotations that the neonate must undergo to successfully negotiate its mother's birth canal) distinguishes humans not only from great apes, but also from lesser apes and monkeys. Tracing the evolution of human childbirth is difficult, because the pelvic skeleton, which forms the margins of the birth canal, tends to survive poorly in the fossil record. Only 3 female individuals preserve fairly complete birth canals, and they all date to earlier phases of human evolution. Here we present a virtual reconstruction of a female Neandertal pelvis from Tabun, Israel. The size of Tabun's reconstructed birth canal indicates that childbirth was about as difficult in Neandertals as in present-day humans, but the canal's shape indicates that Neandertals had a more prim...
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2009
eyond the biological traits that differentiate ancient species of hominins from extant humans, di... more eyond the biological traits that differentiate ancient species of hominins from extant humans, differences in social organization remain an important yet difficult issue to assess. Psychological features
Nature, 1996
THE French site of Arcy-sur-Cure is a key locality in documenting the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic t... more THE French site of Arcy-sur-Cure is a key locality in documenting the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic transition in Europe. Reliable attribution of the fragmentary hominid fossils associated with its early Upper Palaeolithic Chatelperronian industry has not been possible. Here we report the first conclusive identification of one of these fossils as Neanderthal on the basis of newly discovered derived features of the bony labyrinth. Dated at about thirty-four thousand years (34 kyr) ago, the fossil is representative of the youngest known Neanderthal populations, and its archaeological context indicates that these hominids used a rich bone industry as well as personal ornaments. The evidence supports the hypothesis of a long term coexistence with technocultural interactions between the first modern humans and the last Neanderthals in Europe. However, the complete absence of the derived Neanderthal traits in labyrinths of modern Upper Palaeolithic specimens from western Europe argues against phylogenetic continuity between the two populations in this region.
Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology, 2007
Archives of Oral Biology, 2006
Modern human molar enamel thickness and enamel-dentine junction shape 975 values reported for fos... more Modern human molar enamel thickness and enamel-dentine junction shape 975 values reported for fossil apes and humans, suggesting limited taxonomic value when considered alone.
American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 2008
Absolutely thick molar enamel is consistent with large body size estimates and dietary inferences... more Absolutely thick molar enamel is consistent with large body size estimates and dietary inferences about Gigantopithecus blacki, which focus on tough or fibrous vegetation. In this study, 10 G. blacki molars demonstrating various stages of attrition were imaged using high‐resolution microtomography. Three‐dimensional average enamel thickness and relative enamel thickness measurements were recorded on the least worn molars within the sample (n = 2). Seven molars were also virtually sectioned through the mesial cusps and two‐dimensional enamel thickness and dentine horn height measurements were recorded. Gigantopithecus has the thickest enamel of any fossil or extant primate in terms of absolute thickness. Relative (size‐scaled) measures of enamel thickness, however, support a thick characterization (i.e., not “hyper‐thick”); G. blacki relative enamel thickness overlaps slightly with Pongo and completely with Homo. Gigantopithecus blacki dentine horns are relatively short, similar to (...
Scientific Reports, 2020
The Micoquian is the broadest and longest enduring cultural facies of the Late Middle Palaeolithi... more The Micoquian is the broadest and longest enduring cultural facies of the Late Middle Palaeolithic that spread across the periglacial and boreal environments of Europe between Eastern France, Poland, and Northern Caucasus. Here, we present new data from the archaeological record of Stajnia Cave (Poland) and the paleogenetic analysis of a Neanderthal molar S5000, found in a Micoquian context. Our results demonstrate that the mtDNA genome of Stajnia S5000 dates to MIS 5a making the tooth the oldest Neanderthal specimen from Central-Eastern Europe. Furthermore, S5000 mtDNA has the fewest number of differences to mtDNA of Mezmaiskaya 1 Neanderthal from Northern Caucasus, and is more distant from almost contemporaneous Neanderthals of Scladina and Hohlenstein-Stadel. This observation and the technological affinity between Poland and the Northern Caucasus could be the result of increased mobility of Neanderthals that changed their subsistence strategy for coping with the new low biomass e...
Bulletins et mémoires de la société d'anthropologie de Paris, 2005
Qui est l'artisan de l'Aurignacien ancien ? Ré-examen des restes dentaires de Brassempouy
Paléo, 2011
Äëíê~Åí=W=Here we present a virtual skull reconstruction of the Le Moustier 2 neonate based on hi... more Äëíê~Åí=W=Here we present a virtual skull reconstruction of the Le Moustier 2 neonate based on high-resolution computed tomographic data of the delicate original fragments. In the first step, the digital fragments were assembled based on anatomical criteria. If parts were missing on one side, or were better preserved on one side than the other, we used the software Avizo to reflect them across a midsagittal symmetry plane. Missing parts of the braincase were estimated based on complete reference crania using geometric morphometrics, so as to estimate endocranial volume (EV). When we compare our reconstruction of Le Moustier 2 to modern human neonates, we find that many morphological characteristics that separate Neandertal adults from modern human adults are already established at the time of birth. Neandertal features can already be detected in the shape of the orbit, the projection of the midface, the relative size and shape of the nose, the nasal bones, and the shape of the mandibular notch. The shape differences between Le Moustier 2 and modern human neonates in the cranial base are extremely subtle. Around the time of birth modern humans and Neandertals have very similar endocranial shapes and volumes. Our EV estimates for Le Moustier 2 range between 408-428 cc. Our reconstruction of Le Moustier 2 shows that most facial differences between modern humans and Neandertals develop prenatally as they are already established at the time of birth. Most shape differences in the braincase between modern humans and Neandertals, however, develop after birth. Our reconstruction of Le Moustier 2 therefore supports the notion that modern humans and Neandertals reach similar adult endocranial capacity through different postnatal ontogenetic pathways.
Current Biology, 2018
Highlights d We use fossil skull data to derive an index of endocranial shape in human MRI scans ... more Highlights d We use fossil skull data to derive an index of endocranial shape in human MRI scans d In 4,468 Europeans, we screen introgressed Neandertal SNPs for association with the index d Lead SNPs consistently associate with reduced globularity in five separate subsamples d These SNPs affect neural expression of two genes linked to neurogenesis and myelination
Proceedings. Biological sciences, Jan 11, 2018
Three adaptive hypotheses have been forwarded to explain the distinctive Neanderthal face: (i) an... more Three adaptive hypotheses have been forwarded to explain the distinctive Neanderthal face: (i) an improved ability to accommodate high anterior bite forces, (ii) more effective conditioning of cold and/or dry air and, (iii) adaptation to facilitate greater ventilatory demands. We test these hypotheses using three-dimensional models of Neanderthals, modern humans, and a close outgroup (), applying finite-element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). This is the most comprehensive application of either approach applied to date and the first to include both. FEA reveals few differences between , modern humans, and Neanderthals in their capacities to sustain high anterior tooth loadings. CFD shows that the nasal cavities of Neanderthals and especially modern humans condition air more efficiently than does that of , suggesting that both evolved to better withstand cold and/or dry climates than less derived We further find that Neanderthals could move considerably more ai...
Journal of anatomy, Jan 18, 2017
Evolutionary studies of mammalian teeth have generally concentrated on the adaptive and functiona... more Evolutionary studies of mammalian teeth have generally concentrated on the adaptive and functional significance of dental features, whereas the role of development on phenotypic generation and as a source of variation has received comparatively little attention. The present study combines an evolutionary biological framework with state-of-the-art imaging techniques to examine the developmental basis of variation of accessory cusps. Scholars have long used the position and relatedness of cusps to other crown structures as a criterion for differentiating between developmentally homologous and homoplastic features, which can be evaluated with greater accuracy at the enamel-dentine junction (EDJ). Following this approach, we collected digital models of the EDJ and outer enamel surface of more than 1000 hominoid teeth to examine whether cusp 5 of the upper molars (UM C5) and cusps 6 and 7 of the lower molars (LM C6 and LM C7) were associated each with a common developmental origin across...
Journal of human evolution, 2016
South African hominin fossils attributed to Australopithecus africanus derive from the cave sites... more South African hominin fossils attributed to Australopithecus africanus derive from the cave sites of Makapansgat, Sterkfontein, and Taung, from deposits dated between about 2 and 3 million years ago (Ma), while Paranthropus robustus is known from Drimolen, Kromdraai, and Swartkrans, from deposits dated between about 1 and 2 Ma. Although variation in the premolar root complex has informed taxonomic and phylogenetic hypotheses for these fossil hominin species, traditionally there has been a focus on external root form, number, and position. In this study, we use microtomography to undertake the first comprehensive study of maxillary and mandibular premolar root and canal variation in Australopithecus africanus and Paranthropus robustus (n = 166 teeth) within and between the species. We also test for correlations between premolar size and root morphology as predicted under the 'size/number continuum' (SNC) model, which correlates increasing root number with tooth size. Our resu...
Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française, 2011
Un outillage lithique acheuléen, une riche faune du Pléistocène moyen et quatre dents d'hominidés... more Un outillage lithique acheuléen, une riche faune du Pléistocène moyen et quatre dents d'hominidés ont été extraites du remplissage de la cavité de la carrière Thomas I, célèbre depuis la découverte en 1969 d'une hémimandibule humaine. Depuis 1988, des fouilles sont conduites dans ce site dans le cadre du programme franco-marocain «Casablanca ». Une riche faune mammalienne et quelques restes de reptiles et d'oiseaux sont associés à l'industrie lithique dans l'unité stratigraphique 4. La faune, introduite par les carnivores, indique un paysage peu boisé et le stade évolutif des divers taxons suggère un âge plus récent que celui de Tighenif (Algérie). Les marques de découpe sont absentes, ce qui pose la question du rôle des hominidés dans l'accumulation des restes fauniques. Le travail de la pierre était orienté vers la production d'éclats et de rares bifaces ont été introduits dans cette partie du site. Quatre dents humaines ont été exhumées entre 1994 et 2005. La datation ICP-MS par ablation laser combinant l'ESR et les séries de l'Uranium pour modéliser l'enrichissement en Uranium a été appliquée à une prémolaire humaine : elle a fourni un âge de 501 k a. De nouvelles mesures d'âge par OSL sur les sédiments encadrant la dent datée ont respectivement donné 420 ± 34 ka au dessus et 391 ± 32 ka en dessous confirmant un âge minimum centré sur une période relativement ancienne du Pléistocène moyen.
Nature, Jan 25, 2016
The variation in molar tooth size in humans and our closest relatives (hominins) has strongly inf... more The variation in molar tooth size in humans and our closest relatives (hominins) has strongly influenced our view of human evolution. The reduction in overall size and disproportionate decrease in third molar size have been noted for over a century, and have been attributed to reduced selection for large dentitions owing to changes in diet or the acquisition of cooking. The systematic pattern of size variation along the tooth row has been described as a 'morphogenetic gradient' in mammal, and more specifically hominin, teeth since Butler and Dahlberg. However, the underlying controls of tooth size have not been well understood, with hypotheses ranging from morphogenetic fields to the clone theory. In this study we address the following question: are there rules that govern how hominin tooth size evolves? Here we propose that the inhibitory cascade, an activator-inhibitor mechanism that affects relative tooth size in mammals, produces the default pattern of tooth sizes for al...
Scientific Reports, 2015
Prehistoric dental treatments were extremely rare and the few documented cases are known from the... more Prehistoric dental treatments were extremely rare and the few documented cases are known from the Neolithic, when the adoption of early farming culture caused an increase of carious lesions. Here we report the earliest evidence of dental caries intervention on a Late Upper Palaeolithic modern human specimen (Villabruna) from a burial in Northern Italy. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy we show the presence of striations deriving from the manipulation of a large occlusal carious cavity of the lower right third molar. The striations have a “V”-shaped transverse section and several parallel micro-scratches at their base, as typically displayed by cutmarks on teeth. Based on in vitro experimental replication and a complete functional reconstruction of the Villabruna dental arches, we confirm that the identified striations and the associated extensive enamel chipping on the mesial wall of the cavity were produced ante-mortem by pointed flint tools during scratching and levering activiti...
Journal of Human Evolution, 2015
The version in the Kent Academic Repository may differ from the final published version. Users ar... more The version in the Kent Academic Repository may differ from the final published version. Users are advised to check http://kar.kent.ac.uk for the status of the paper. Users should always cite the published version of record.
Quaternary International, 2010
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2008
Paleogenomic research has shown that modern humans, Neanderthals, and their most recent common an... more Paleogenomic research has shown that modern humans, Neanderthals, and their most recent common ancestor have displayed less genetic diversity than living great apes. The traditional interpretation that low levels of genetic diversity in modern humans resulted from a relatively recent demographic bottleneck cannot account for similarly low levels of genetic diversity in Middle Pleistocene hominins. A more parsimonious hypothesis proposes that the effective population size of the human lineage has been low for more than 500,000 years, but the mechanism responsible for suppressing genetic diversity in Pleistocene hominin populations without similarly affecting that of their hominoid contemporaries remains unknown. Here we use agent-based simulation to study the effect of culturally mediated migration on neutral genetic diversity in structured populations. We show that, in populations structured by culturally mediated migration, selection can suppress neutral genetic diversity over thou...
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2007
The evolution of life history (pace of growth and reproduction) was crucial to ancient hominin ad... more The evolution of life history (pace of growth and reproduction) was crucial to ancient hominin adaptations. The study of dental development facilitates assessment of growth and development in fossil hominins with greater precision than other skeletal analyses. During tooth formation, biological rhythms manifest in enamel and dentine, creating a permanent record of growth rate and duration. Quantification of these internal and external incremental features yields developmental benchmarks, including ages at crown completion, tooth eruption, and root completion. Molar eruption is correlated with other aspects of life history. Recent evidence for developmental differences between modern humans and Neanderthals remains ambiguous. By measuring tooth formation in the entire dentition of a juvenile Neanderthal from Scladina, Belgium, we show that most teeth formed over a shorter time than in modern humans and that dental initiation and eruption were relatively advanced. By registering manif...
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2009
Childbirth is complicated in humans relative to other primates. Unlike the situation in great ape... more Childbirth is complicated in humans relative to other primates. Unlike the situation in great apes, human neonates are about the same size as the birth canal, making passage difficult. The birth mechanism (the series of rotations that the neonate must undergo to successfully negotiate its mother's birth canal) distinguishes humans not only from great apes, but also from lesser apes and monkeys. Tracing the evolution of human childbirth is difficult, because the pelvic skeleton, which forms the margins of the birth canal, tends to survive poorly in the fossil record. Only 3 female individuals preserve fairly complete birth canals, and they all date to earlier phases of human evolution. Here we present a virtual reconstruction of a female Neandertal pelvis from Tabun, Israel. The size of Tabun's reconstructed birth canal indicates that childbirth was about as difficult in Neandertals as in present-day humans, but the canal's shape indicates that Neandertals had a more prim...
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2009
eyond the biological traits that differentiate ancient species of hominins from extant humans, di... more eyond the biological traits that differentiate ancient species of hominins from extant humans, differences in social organization remain an important yet difficult issue to assess. Psychological features
Nature, 1996
THE French site of Arcy-sur-Cure is a key locality in documenting the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic t... more THE French site of Arcy-sur-Cure is a key locality in documenting the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic transition in Europe. Reliable attribution of the fragmentary hominid fossils associated with its early Upper Palaeolithic Chatelperronian industry has not been possible. Here we report the first conclusive identification of one of these fossils as Neanderthal on the basis of newly discovered derived features of the bony labyrinth. Dated at about thirty-four thousand years (34 kyr) ago, the fossil is representative of the youngest known Neanderthal populations, and its archaeological context indicates that these hominids used a rich bone industry as well as personal ornaments. The evidence supports the hypothesis of a long term coexistence with technocultural interactions between the first modern humans and the last Neanderthals in Europe. However, the complete absence of the derived Neanderthal traits in labyrinths of modern Upper Palaeolithic specimens from western Europe argues against phylogenetic continuity between the two populations in this region.