Lecture 18 - Homo neanderthalensis: fossil evidence Flashcards
neanderthal general information
- 150 ka to 28 Ka
- range: Western Europe (Iberia) to Western Asia (Siberia) and Northern Europe to Israel (Mount Caramel)
- over 400 individuals, including 10s of near-complete skeletons
describe the environment of Pleistocene Ice Ages (2.6 Ma - 12 Ka)
- temperatures get increasingly cooler and drier during glacial periods
- Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) reach c. 26.5 Ka
- during ice ages, when ice sheets grow south, neadernthals love on margins of ice sheets
history
what was the history of the ‘original neanderthal’ discovery
- from Neander’s Valley, Germany
- discovered by local quarryman in Feldhofer Cave, 1856
- pre-Darwinian
- originally ‘explained’ by scientists as pathological specimen (like reaction to H. floresiensis
- now considered type-specimen
- even earlier discovered went unrecognized until the publication of Feldhofer specimen
history
what was the discovery at La-Chapelle-aux-Saints
- France, 60ka
- discovered in 1908
- first ever recognized Neanderthal burial
- very complete skeleton & came with associated artifacts
- but LCaS is an old man (which was not taken into consideration during Marcellin Boule’s reconstruction)
history
Vindija discovery general info
- Vindija, Krapina, Croatia
- discovered in 1899
- ca. 130 Ka
- 876 specimens, at least 24 individuals
history
implications of discovery at Mount Carmel
- several sites in Mount Carmel, Israel
- presence of both modern human & Neanderthal
- maybe glacial vs. inglacial period habitat differences
- Israel located at crossroads of where neanderthals & AMHS might’ve crossed during migration during ice age
anatomy
H. neanderthalensis traits
- larger brain >1400 cc
- sloping forehead
- moderate browridge
- midfacial prognathism (noses adapted to habitat temp)
- occipital burn
- no chin
anatomy
mandible traits
- retromolar space
- buccolingually wide anterior teeth
- diagonal wear on incisors
- last two traits suggests use incisors as ‘tool’s
anatomy
postcrania
- overall similar body to AMHS
- broader rib cage, long clavicle
- strong shoulder (from muscle marking evidence) –> related to spear thrusting
- relatively short distal extremities
- strongly marked muscle attachments
- large joint surface (indicative of heavy body weight)
anatomy
manual dexterity
- pad-to-pad precision grip, dexterity (indistinguishable from modern humans)
- more robust
- short thumb
- more power during manual manipulation ?
- Mousterian industry - stone technology
important neanderthal fossils
mount carmel fossils
- Tabun 1 - female, ~30 yr death
- 50-122 ka
- ~130 lbs - Kebara 2
- 48-60Ka
- ~82 kg
- includes fully complete hand
important neanderthal fossils
Shanidar fossils
- Shanidar cave, Iraq
- quintessential site arguing for symbolic ritual behavior in Neanderthals (deliberate burial?)
- pollen around the skeleton - “flower burial”
- other individuals had disabilities/injuries that are healed so extreme that they could not have survived without help
important neanderthal fossils
Le Moustier 2
- found in 1914, re-discovered in a museum in a museum collection in 1996
- ~4 month child
robust morphology
juveniles exhibit the ‘typical’ features present in the adult
- large joints
- thick cortical bone
- elongated pubis
- high calivo-humeral index
- low crural index
shows that Neanderthal body form inherited, not develpoed due to use in life
important neanderthal fossils
birthing process for Neanderthal
- examined through virtual reconstructions
- Neanderthal brain size at birth is like modern’s humans
- higher growth in early infancy
- birthing process less dangerous than for AMHS? –> similar cranial size, wider pelvis opening
archaeological record
what was the Mousterian Industry
- focus on smaller tools made from flakes of standardized shape & size (‘Levallois technique’)
- interchangeable parts
- requires plannign & skills
- mounted on handles (hafting)
- requires binding agents (glue/string)
- thrusting spear
- condordant with signs of trauma/injury in Neanderthals
what did high nitrogen values indicate about Neanderthal diet
indicates a diet rich in meat (‘top-level carnivores’)
- values similar to wolves and hyena
hunting
- competent hunters that probably used ambush (involving cooperation and planning)
- mono-specific (for species-dominated assemblages are common)
- but species targeted vary by time, environment, season
survival from injury and trauma indications
- care for the elderly
- care for the injured
- severed individuals with healed fractures, abscesses, cavities etc
symbolism
- evidence of ornamentation = identity marker
- use of pogment to decorate their body
- rock ‘art’ (ex: Gibraltar)
- little evidence of extended trade networks
