Human Evolution by Asier Gómez Olivencia
Fossil hominin mesosterna, while scarce, can provide useful morphological data in addition to rib... more Fossil hominin mesosterna, while scarce, can provide useful morphological data in addition to rib remains regarding aspects of thoracic size and shape. These data, in turn, can address hypotheses related to respiratory dynamics, climatic adaptation, and ecogeographical patterning. In this study, we re-evaluate the anatomical representation of the mesosternum of the Regourdou 1 Neandertal individual that alters key aspects of the original description of the fossil remains. We compare this specimen together with the mesosterna of the Kebara 2 Neandertal male individual and the Tabun C1 Neandertal female individual to a large extant modern comparative sample. Our study shows that the current evidence available for Neandertals indicates longer mesosterna reflecting larger thorax sizes among Neandertals in comparison to extant humans. Additionally, while this study weakens previous suggestions of ecogeographically mediated differences in the size and shape of upper thorax between Neandertals from the Mediterranean Levant and those deriving from Western Europe, we cannot unambiguously disprove the notion of such clinal differences.
L'Anthropologie, Jan 1, 2009
Journal of human …, Jan 1, 2010
Proceedings of the …, Jan 1, 2010
Journal of human …, Jan 1, 2009
Journal of human …, Jan 1, 2007
The lordotic curvature of the lumbar spine (lumbar lordosis) in humans is a critical component in... more The lordotic curvature of the lumbar spine (lumbar lordosis) in humans is a critical component in the ability to achieve upright posture and bipedal gait. Only general estimates of the lordotic angle (LA) of extinct hominins are currently available, most of which are based on the wedging of the vertebral bodies. Recently, a new method for calculating the LA in skeletal material has become available. This method is based on the relationship between the lordotic curvature and the orientation of the inferior articular processes relative to vertebral bodies in
the lumbar spines of living primates. Using this relationship, we developed new regression models in order to calculate the LAs in hominins. The new models are based on primate group-means and were used to calculate the LAs in the spines of eight extinct hominins. The results were also compared with the LAs of modern humans and modern nonhuman apes. The lordotic angles of australopithecines (41º +/- 4), H. erectus (45º) and fossil H. sapiens (54º +/- 14) are similar to those of modern humans (51º +/- 11)). This analysis confirms the assumption that human-like lordotic curvature was a morphological change that took place during the acquisition of erect posture and bipedalism as the habitual form of locomotion. Neandertals have smaller lordotic angles (LA= 29º +/-4) than modern humans, but higher angles than nonhuman apes (22º+/- 3). This suggests possible subtle differences in Neandertal posture and loco-
motion from that of modern humans.
Journal of human …, Jan 1, 2011
Systematic excavations at the site of the Sima de los Huesos (SH) in the Sierra de Atapuerca (Bur... more Systematic excavations at the site of the Sima de los Huesos (SH) in the Sierra de Atapuerca (Burgos, Spain) have allowed us to reconstruct 27 complete long bones of the human species Homo hei- delbergensis. The SH sample is used here, together with a sample of 39 complete Homo neanderthalensis long bones and 17 complete early Homo sapiens (Skhul/Qafzeh) long bones, to compare the stature of these three different human species. Stature is estimated for each bone using race- and sex-independent regression formulae, yielding an average stature for each bone within each taxon. The mean length of each long bone from SH is significantly greater (p < 0.05) than the corresponding mean values in the Neandertal sample. The stature has been calculated for male and female specimens separately, averaging both means to calculate a general mean. This general mean stature for the entire sample of long bones is 163.6 cm for the SH hominins, 160.6 cm for Neandertals and 177.4 cm for early modern humans. Despite some overlap in the ranges of variation, all mean values in the SH sample (whether considering isolated bones, the upper or lower limb, males or females or more complete individuals) are larger than those of Neandertals. Given the strong relationship between long bone length and stature, we conclude that SH hominins represent a slightly taller population or species than the Neandertals. However, compared with living European Mediterranean populations, neither the Sima de los Huesos hominins nor the Nean- dertals should be considered ‘short’ people. In fact, the average stature within the genus Homo seems to have changed little over the course of the last two million years, since the appearance of Homo ergaster in East Africa. It is only with the emergence of H. sapiens, whose earliest representatives were ‘very tall’, that a significant increase in stature can be documented.
Gómez-Olivencia, A. 2013. Back to the old man's back: reassessment of the anatomical determination of the vertebrae of the Neandertal individual of La Chapelle-aux-Saints. Annales de Paléontologie 99, 43-65.
One hundred years ago, in this same journal, Boule described the nearly complete skeleton of the ... more One hundred years ago, in this same journal, Boule described the nearly complete skeleton of the Neandertal from La Chapelle-aux-Saints in a series of articles which constituted a monograph on this individual. This find, and especially his vertebrae has played a central role in a long and as yet unresolved debate regarding the body posture of Neandertals. In this article, a full inventory and anatomical descriptions for all the vertebrae and the sacrum are provided for the first time. Additionally, new anatomical determinations for some of the elements are provided and justified. In light of these results, the pathological studies of this individual need to be re-evaluated and new metric studies are warranted.
This contribution provides a detailed inventory and description of the presacral vertebrae attrib... more This contribution provides a detailed inventory and description of the presacral vertebrae attributed to the La Ferrassie 1 Neandertal, including substantial photographic documentation. Several errors in the reconstruction of these vertebrae have been noted. Furthermore, one of the thoracic vertebrae probably belonged to the La Ferrassie 2 female individual. In light of these results, caution is recommended in future analyses of the La Ferrassie 1 vertebral column.
The Regourdou 1 partial skeleton was found in 1957 in level IV of the eponymous site located in M... more The Regourdou 1 partial skeleton was found in 1957 in level IV of the eponymous site located in Montignac-sur-Vézère (Dordogne, France) and until now it has been only partially published. The ongoing revision of the faunal remains from the site has yielded additional fossils that pertain to this skeleton. Here we study the vertebral column of this individual, providing for the first time detailed descriptions for all of the fossils and reassessing the anatomical position of all of the fragments. The vertebral column of Regourdou 1 is one of the most complete in the Neandertal fossil record with at least 20 pre-sacral vertebrae (seven cervicals, nine thoracic and four lumbars), a partial sacrum and a fragmentary first coccygeal vertebra. When compared with modern humans, the vertebrae of Regourdou 1 display significant metric differences, and fit well within the range of Neandertal variability. A preliminary analysis of the most complete thoracic vertebrae of this individual indicates that Neandertals displayed significant differences from modern humans in the thoracic spine, which adds to the differences already observed in the cervical and lumbar regions. Finally, we have also observed mild signs of osteoarthrosis, albeit to a lower degree of that present in other Neandertals such as La Chapelle-aux-Saints, La Ferrassie 1 or Shanidar 3. This is consistent with the younger adult age for Regourdou 1.El esqueleto parcial del Neandertal Regourdou 1 fue descubierto en 1957 en el nivel IV del yacimiento homónimo, localizado en Montignac-sur-Vézère (Dordoña, Francia), y hasta el momento sólo ha sido publicado parcialmente. Durante la revisión de los restos de fauna de este yacimiento se han recuperado nuevos fósiles que pertenecen a este esqueleto. En este artículo estudiamos la columna vertebral de este individuo, incluyendo por primera vez descripciones detalladas de todos los fósiles pertenecientes a la columna vertebral y re-estudiando la posición anatómica de todos los fragmentos. La columna vertebral de Regourdou 1 es una de las más completas del registro fósil Neandertal con al menos 20 vértebras presacras representadas (siete cervicales, nueve torácicas y cuatro lumbares), un sacro parcialmente preservado y un fragmento de cóccix. Al ser comparado métricamente con muestras de humanos modernos, Regourdou 1 muestra diferencias significativas y encaja bien dentro de la variabilidad de los Neandertales. El estudio preliminar de las vértebras torácicas más completas de este individuo muestra que los Neandertales presentaban diferencias significativas en comparación a los humanos modernos, lo que se añade a las diferencias detectadas en las regiones cervical y lumbar en estudios previos. Por último, también hemos detectado débiles signos de artrósis, aunque en un grado menor que en otros Neandertales como La Chapelle-aux-Saints, La Ferrassie 1 o Shanidar 3, lo que es coherente con la atribución de Regourdou 1 a un adulto más joven.
This paper provides a metric analysis of the Neandertal cervical spine in relation to modern huma... more This paper provides a metric analysis of the Neandertal cervical spine in relation to modern human variation. All seven cervical vertebrae have been analysed. Metric data from eight Neandertal individuals are compared with a large sample of modern humans. The significance of morphometric differences is tested using both z-scores and two-tailed Wilcoxon signed rank tests. The results identify significant metric and morphological differences between Neandertals and modern humans in all seven cervical vertebrae. Neandertal vertebrae are mediolaterally wider and dorsoventrally longer than modern humans, due in part to longer and more horizontally oriented spinous processes. This suggests that Neandertal cervical morphology was more stable in both mid-sagittal and coronal planes. It is hypothesized that the differences in cranial size and shape in the Neandertal and modern human lineages from their Middle Pleistocene ancestors could account for some of the differences in the neck anatomy between these species.Este artículo proporciona un análisis métrico de la columna cervical de los Neandertales, comparándola a la variación presente en los humanos modernos. Las siete vértebras cervicales han sido analizadas: datos métricos de siete Neandertales son comparados a una gran muestra de humanos modernos. El grado de significación de las diferencias morfométricas es testado usando z-scores y la prueba de signos de Wilcoxon con dos colas. Los resultados de este estudio indican que hay diferencias métricas y morfológicas significativas entre los Neandertales y los humanos modernos en todas las vértebras cervicales. Las vértebras cervicales de los Neandertales son más anchas mediolateralmente y más largas dorsoventralmente, en parte debido a apófisis espinosas más largas y orientadas más horizontalmente. Esto sugiere que el cuello de los Neandertales era más estable tanto en el plano medio-sagital como en el plano coronal. Hipotetizamos que las diferencias en el tamaño y forma del cráneo acontecidas desde el Pleistoceno Medio tanto en el linaje Neandertal como en nuestro propio linaje podrían explicar algunas de las diferencias entre las dos especies.
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Almost 150 years after the first identification of Neandertal skeletal material, the cognitive an... more Almost 150 years after the first identification of Neandertal skeletal material, the cognitive and symbolic abilities of these populations remain a subject of intense debate. We present 99 new Neandertal remains from the Troisième caverne of Goyet (Belgium) dated to 40,500–45,500 calBP. The remains were identified through a multidisciplinary study that combines morphometrics, taphonomy, stable isotopes, radiocarbon dating and genetic analyses. The Goyet Neandertal bones show distinctive anthropogenic modifications, which provides clear evidence for butchery activities as well as four bones having been used for retouching stone tools. In addition to being the first site to have yielded multiple Neandertal bones used as retouchers, Goyet not only provides the first unambiguous evidence of Neandertal cannibalism in Northern Europe, but also highlights considerable diversity in mortuary behaviour among the region's late Neandertal population in the period immediately preceding their disappearance. Neandertal funerary practices remain at the forefront of palaeoanthropological research, generating heated debates following the revision of old data and new excavations at key sites such as La Chapelle-aux-Saints 1,2 , Roc de Marsal 3 , Saint-Césaire 4 and La Ferrassie 5. More generally, attention has focused on the variability of Neandertal mortuary practices to evaluate their cognitive and symbolic implications, especially as they may provide insights concerning the social systems of this fossil human group 6. Neandertals are known to have buried their dead and are associated with mortuary behaviours that are often difficult to interpret in Palaeolithic contexts. The site of Krapina (Croatia) is an instructive example in this sense. Evidence for cannibalism was first proposed for this site as early as 1901 7 based on the fragmentation and traces of burning from a large collection of early Neandertal remains. This evidence has since been disputed by proponents of alternative explanations for the human bone modifications who argue for natural processes while others maintain that the anthropogenic manipulations are best interpreted in the context of secondary burials 8. Several studies dedicated to cannibalism have proposed that securely identifying anthropogenic modifications related to this practice should incorporate evidence for the
Papers by Asier Gómez Olivencia
•The site of La Ferrassie (Dordogne, France) is well known for the presence of several (N=7) Nean... more •The site of La Ferrassie (Dordogne, France) is well known for the presence of several (N=7) Neandertal individuals, and here we focus on two adults (LF1 and LF2) discovered by Peyrony and Capitan in the early 20thc [1], and LF8, a child excavated by Delporte in the 1970s [2]. In spite when the LF1 and LF2 discoveries were made, we know that they were found very close to each other and there is some general information on their location within the larger site of La Ferrassie. Nonetheless, the context of these finds is incomplete, with many ambiguities about their archaeological association and exact stratigraphic position. The LF8 skeleton was uncovered about 8-10m further into the cave, in an area that is stratigraphically disconnected from LF1 and 2 near the entrance. Here we present sedimentological, stratigraphic, and chronological data of the deposits from recent excavations (2010-2014) that shed new light on the context of these Neanderthals. LF1 and LF2 were found close to our western excavation section. Field and micromorphological observations of sediments associated with the Middle Paleolithic revealed a sequence of basal fluvial sands (Layer 1) overlain successively by frost-affected, cryoturbated chalky deposits (Layer 2) and finely bedded silty sand anthropogenic deposits, rich in burned bone and flint (Layers 3, 4, and 5). Macroscopic comparisons of the sediments attached to the LF2 foot show a strong affinity to our Layer 4 and/or Layer 5, showing that the specimen clearly postdates Layer 3 [3]; a similar attempt to assign a layer to loose sediments found near LF1 was inconclusive. Although LF1 and LF2 cannot be positioned stratigraphically with certainty, our microstratigraphic results and comparisons show inconsistencies with Peyrony’s ‘yellow’ and ‘red’ attributions to the deposits associated with them. Radiocarbon and luminescence (14C, OSL, IRSL) ages attribute the Layer 4/5 deposits to MIS 3: Layer 5b was dated to between 44 and 47 ka cal BP based on radiocarbon, while luminescence ages for Layers 4 and 5 range between 40 ± 2 ka and 54 ± 4 ka [3, 4, 5]. Although the LF8 skeleton and much of the associated objects were removed during the 1970s excavation, the deposits in the area where LF8 was found are very different from those of the western section, being much stonier and generally consisting of yellow, brown silty clays with generally platy éboulis. We excavated this area of the site and recognized several layers: Layer A (base) through Layer D (top). Evaluation of Delporte’s records showed that the LF8 child was most probably at the same elevation as our Layer B. The underlying Layer A, along with the base of Layer B, were deformed by the formation of several cryogenic patterned ground hummock formations. Similar features (called “monticules”) were recorded during Peyrony’s excavations [1]. This deformation likely occurred at the same time as the deposition of Layer 2 in the western section. Therefore, from a stratigraphic standpoint, Layer B appears to be the temporal equivalent of Layer 2 in the western area. A preliminary OSL age for sediments from the same altitude as LF8 suggests that it dates to MIS 4 (~66 ka). OSL ages obtained for Layer 2 in the western area [3, 4] are consistent with this preliminary age and support the link between these two Layers. In the remaining deposits, there were no indications for a distinct infill in this area, neither in the profile nor in the artifact plots. Fauna associated with LF8 are currently being radiocarbon dated. There are also clear differences in artifact density in these different loci of the site, with LF8 associated with archaeologically poor Middle Paleolithic sediments as compared with the artifact-rich deposits further toward the western section where LF1 and LF2 were uncovered. Thus, when considered in their totality, all of the data clearly show that LF1 and LF2 are stratigraphically above the sediments that were at the same level as LF8.
Files in .ply format of the reconstructed spine and thorax of the Kebara 2 Neandertal individual.... more Files in .ply format of the reconstructed spine and thorax of the Kebara 2 Neandertal individual. Reconstruction process described in Gómez-Olivencia et al., in press<br>
Spinal Evolution, 2019
Reconstruction of the spinal curvatures of extinct hominins is essential in order to understand t... more Reconstruction of the spinal curvatures of extinct hominins is essential in order to understand their posture and function. Despite its importance, researchers face many difficulties in reconstructing spinal posture based solely on osseous material due to the absence of soft tissues.
Spinal Evolution, 2019
The vertebral spine is a key element of the vertebrate anatomy and it fulfills two main roles. Fi... more The vertebral spine is a key element of the vertebrate anatomy and it fulfills two main roles. First, it protects the spinal cord and associated blood vessels. Second, it is a structural column that influences both body posture and locomotion. The study of the evolution of the human spine thus provides information on how the distinct posture and locomotion of our species—striding bipedalism with an upright trunk—developed. In this volume we provide the most updated information on the morphology and evolution of the human spine. This volume mainly focuses on the skeletal aspect and contextualizes it within the evolution of the spine in hominoids, but it also provides orthopedic information as well as an overview of new methodological approaches in study of the spine. The objective of this introductory chapter is to provide an overview of the book, to summarize the state of the art on this subject, and to propose new avenues for future research.
Spinal Evolution, 2019
In this chapter, we summarize the vertebral fossil record for late Homo, including H. antecessor,... more In this chapter, we summarize the vertebral fossil record for late Homo, including H. antecessor, Middle Pleistocene Homo (except H. naledi), H. neanderthalensis, and fossil H. sapiens. Homo antecessor is represented only by the fossil remains from Gran Dolina-TD6, the Middle Pleistocene vertebral fossil record is sparse both geographically and chronologically, whereas the Late Pleistocene fossil record is more abundant. Based on the current evidence, at least two distinct morphologies arose from the more primitive H. erectus spine morphology: that of the Neandertal lineage and that of H. sapiens. Neandertals and their Middle Pleistocene ancestors show differences in all the anatomical regions, which are related to a spine with less accentuated curvatures, when compared to modern humans. The Sima de los Huesos (SH) paleodeme does not display the full suite of derived Neandertal features, a pattern also present in the cranium and the rest of the postcranium, which implies that the di...
Quaternary International, 2020
Lumentxa is a classic site in Basque Prehistory, excavated in three different phases during the 2... more Lumentxa is a classic site in Basque Prehistory, excavated in three different phases during the 20th century, which has yielded evidence of both Pleistocene and Holocene occupations. In this article, we present a detailed study of the human remains from this site including paleobiological, taphonomic, biomechanical and chronological perspectives. The human assemblage comprises of a minimum number of seven individuals: three subadult and four adults, with both sexes represented, although part of the human collection is currently lost. We have obtained C14 dates from 4 of these 7 individuals indicating a prolonged funerary use of the cave from the Early Neolithic until the Bronze Age. We observed some biases in the skeletal representation which could be due to differences in the excavation methods between field seasons and/or the action of carnivores, the latter being evident in at least three of the individuals. The taphonomic modifications are typical off those found in the postabandonment phases in cave funerary contexts. The relatively low number of individuals compared with other sites in the region and extended timespan over which the remains were deposited suggest that the cave was used only sporadically for funerary purposes. We report the first biomechanical data for a Neolithic individual from the Iberian Peninsula, which show greatest overall similarity to the Neolithic sample from France and Italy. Finally, the broad time period covered by the direct dates and the more complex taphonomic history than was previously assumed for such sites indicate that caution is warranted when assigning sepulchral caves to cultural periods in the Western Pyrenees when no direct radiocarbon dates have been obtained.
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Human Evolution by Asier Gómez Olivencia
the lumbar spines of living primates. Using this relationship, we developed new regression models in order to calculate the LAs in hominins. The new models are based on primate group-means and were used to calculate the LAs in the spines of eight extinct hominins. The results were also compared with the LAs of modern humans and modern nonhuman apes. The lordotic angles of australopithecines (41º +/- 4), H. erectus (45º) and fossil H. sapiens (54º +/- 14) are similar to those of modern humans (51º +/- 11)). This analysis confirms the assumption that human-like lordotic curvature was a morphological change that took place during the acquisition of erect posture and bipedalism as the habitual form of locomotion. Neandertals have smaller lordotic angles (LA= 29º +/-4) than modern humans, but higher angles than nonhuman apes (22º+/- 3). This suggests possible subtle differences in Neandertal posture and loco-
motion from that of modern humans.
Papers by Asier Gómez Olivencia
the lumbar spines of living primates. Using this relationship, we developed new regression models in order to calculate the LAs in hominins. The new models are based on primate group-means and were used to calculate the LAs in the spines of eight extinct hominins. The results were also compared with the LAs of modern humans and modern nonhuman apes. The lordotic angles of australopithecines (41º +/- 4), H. erectus (45º) and fossil H. sapiens (54º +/- 14) are similar to those of modern humans (51º +/- 11)). This analysis confirms the assumption that human-like lordotic curvature was a morphological change that took place during the acquisition of erect posture and bipedalism as the habitual form of locomotion. Neandertals have smaller lordotic angles (LA= 29º +/-4) than modern humans, but higher angles than nonhuman apes (22º+/- 3). This suggests possible subtle differences in Neandertal posture and loco-
motion from that of modern humans.