Adolescent archaics or adult moderns? Le Moustier 1 as a model for estimating the age at death of fragmentary supraorbital fossils in the modern human origins debate.

This study documents and examines selected implications of the adolescent supraorbital anatomy of the Le Moustier 1 Neandertal. Le Moustier's supraorbital morphology conforms to that expected of an adolescent Neandertal but indicates that significant development of the adult Neandertal torus occurs late in ontogeny. As the best preserved adolescent from the Late Pleistocene, Le Moustier 1's anatomy is used to help distinguish adolescent from adult anatomy in two cases of fragmentary supraorbital fossils, the Vindija late Neandertals and KRM 16425 from Klasies River Mouth (South Africa). It has been suggested that the modern-like aspects of the Vindija and Klasies supraorbital fossils are a function of developmental age rather than evolution. Although Le Moustier 1's anatomy does indicate that two of the Vindija fossils are adolescent; these two fossils have already been excluded from studies that demonstrate transitional aspects of the Vindija adult supraorbitals. Results of an analysis of KRM 16425 in light of Le Moustier 1 are more ambiguous. KRM 16425 is clearly not a Neandertal, but its morphology suggests that it may be an adolescent form of such late archaic Africans like Florisbad or Ngaloba. Both the Vindija and Klasies River Mouth cases highlight the need to be wary of confusing adolescent anatomy with modernity.

Morphometric testing of structural hypotheses of the supraorbital region in modern humans.

Our understanding of the functional morphology of the primate supraorbital region is based largely on previous morphometric and in vivo mechanical tests of hypotheses in non-human anthropoids. Prior tests of two structural hypotheses explaining morphological variation in the supraorbital region, the craniofacial size hypothesis and the spatial hypothesis, did not fully consider modern humans. We extend these previous findings to include modern humans by conducting morphometric tests of these two hypotheses in a sample of adult Melanesian crania. Morphometric correlates of structural predictions for the craniofacial size and spatial hypotheses were developed and compared to measurements of the supraorbital region via bivariate product-moment correlations. Measurements of the supraorbital region are significantly correlated with a craniofacial size estimate across individuals from this Melanesian sample. This result supports the prediction of the craniofacial size hypothesis that the magnitude of the supraorbital region is proportional to craniofacial size. The predicted link between the degree of neural-orbital disjunction and the magnitude of the supraorbital region, explicated in the spatial hypothesis, receives mixed support in the correlation analysis. These two results agree with previous research indicating that support for the craniofacial size and spatial hypotheses can be found across and within anthropoid primate species, including modern humans. Correlational support for both the craniofacial size and spatial hypotheses suggests multiple factors influence variation in the modern human supraorbital region. Thus, a single hypothesis cannot fully account for modern human variation in this region. The low bivariate correlation coefficients in this study further question whether existing hypotheses can adequately explain morphological variation in the supraorbital region in a primate population sample. Novel functional, structural, behavioral and developmental ideas must be explored if we are to better understand morphological variation in the modern human supraorbital region.

Makers of the early Aurignacian of Europe.

Despite intensive study and a number of remarkable discoveries in the last two decades of the 20th century, our understanding of the cultural and biological processes that resulted in the emergence of the Upper Paleolithic and the establishment of modern humans in Interpleniglacial Europe remains far from complete. There is active debate concerning the timing and location of the origins of the Aurignacian, the nature of the origins of Initial Upper Paleolithic industries (whether by autochthonous development or through acculturation by Aurignacian peoples), the timing of the appearance of early modern humans and the disappearance of the Neandertals, and the relationship of archeologically defined cultures to these different types of hominids. Frustrating our attempts to address these latter two questions is a general paucity of taxonomically diagnostic human fossil material from early Upper Paleolithic contexts. We undertake here a review of the human fossil record of Interpleniglacial Europe, and its archeological and chronological context, to clarify to the extent possible the nature of the relationship between hominid groups and the earliest Upper Paleolithic artifact industries, particularly the early Aurignacian. Although substantial difficulties involved in interpreting the fossil, archeological, and geochronological records of this time period prohibit making any definitive statements, a number of observations are suggested by the current data: 1) the Middle Paleolithic of Europe appears to have been made exclusively by Neandertals; 2) Initial Upper Paleolithic industries (with the exception of the Bachokirian) appear to have their roots in the late Middle Paleolithic industries of their respective regions; 3) all of the human fossils yet recovered from Initial Upper Paleolithic (except the Bachokirian) contexts for which any diagnostic morphology is present have their greatest morphological affinities with Neandertals and not early modern humans; 4) modern humans were almost certainly established in Europe by ca. 32 ky BP, with a strong possibility that they were there by ca. 36 ky BP. Claims for an appearance before 36 ky BP cannot be substantiated with currently available evidence; 5) the hypothesis that modern humans are uniquely associated with the Aurignacian cannot yet be refuted. Aurignacian-associated human fossils (including those from the Bachokirian) for which any diagnostic morphology is present have their greatest affinities with early modern Europeans and not Neandertals; and 6) Neandertals and modern humans coexisted in Europe for at least 2,000-4,000 years, and perhaps for 8,000-10,000 years or longer. The overall picture is one of an extended period of cultural contact, involving some degree of genetic exchange, between Neandertals and early modern Europeans.

Neanderthal diet at Vindija and Neanderthal predation: the evidence from stable isotopes.

Archeological analysis of faunal remains and of lithic and bone tools has suggested that hunting of medium to large mammals was a major element of Neanderthal subsistence. Plant foods are almost invisible in the archeological record, and it is impossible to estimate accurately their dietary importance. However, stable isotope (delta(13)C and delta(15)N) analysis of mammal bone collagen provides a direct measure of diet and has been applied to two Neanderthals and various faunal species from Vindija Cave, Croatia. The isotope evidence overwhelmingly points to the Neanderthals behaving as top-level carnivores, obtaining almost all of their dietary protein from animal sources. Earlier Neanderthals in France and Belgium have yielded similar results, and a pattern of European Neanderthal adaptation as carnivores is emerging. These data reinforce current taphonomic assessments of associated faunal elements and make it unlikely that the Neanderthals were acquiring animal protein principally through scavenging. Instead, these findings portray them as effective predators.

A modern human humerus from the early aurignacian of Vogelherdhöhle (Stetten, Germany).

Implicit in much of the discussion of the cultural and population biological dynamics of modern human origins in Europe is the assumption that the Aurignacian, from its very start, was made by fully modern humans. The veracity of this assumption has been challenged in recent years by the association of Neandertal skeletal remains with a possibly Aurignacian assemblage at Vindija Cave (Croatia) and the association of Neandertals with distinctly Upper Paleolithic (but non-Aurignacian) assemblages at Arcy-sur-Cure and St. C¿esaire (France). Ideally we need human fossil material that can be confidently assigned to the early Aurignacian to resolve this issue, yet in reality there is a paucity of well-provenanced human fossils from early Upper Paleolithic contexts. One specimen, a right humerus from the site of Vogelherd (Germany), has been argued, based on its size, robusticity, and muscularity, to possibly represent a Neandertal in an Aurignacian context. The morphological affinities of the Vogelherd humerus were explored by univariate and multivariate comparisons of humeral epiphyseal and diaphyseal shape and strength measures relative to humeri of Neandertals and Early Upper Paleolithic (later Aurignacian and Gravettian) modern humans. On the basis of diaphyseal cross-sectional geometry, deltoid tuberosity morphology, and distal epiphyseal morphology, the specimen falls clearly and consistently with European early modern humans and not with Neandertals. Along with the other Vogelherd human remains, the Vogelherd humerus represents an unequivocal association between the Aurignacian and modern human morphology in Europe.

Krapina 1: a juvenile Neandertal from the early late Pleistocene of Croatia.

The juvenile A Skull from Krapina, Croatia (Krapina 1) has been the subject of considerable debate since B. Skerlj first suggested that it might not be a Neandertal. Although widely known by its original designation, the Krapina A Skull was recatalogued, along with all of the Krapina hominids, in the 1980's (Radovcic, et al., [1988]. The Krapina Hominids: An Illustrated Catalog of Skeletal Collection. Zagreb; Mladost). It is now catalogued as Krapina 1 in the archives of the Hrvatski Prirodoslovni Muzej, Zagreb, Croatia. We present a detailed, morphometric analysis of this specimen, comparing it to other Krapina specimens, juvenile late Pleistocene hominids (including Neandertals), and subadult recent humans. This analysis demonstrates that Krapina 1 possesses morphological features that are primitive retentions; others that represent derived Neandertal specializations; and still others that are typical for all European late Pleistocene humans. Morphological features associated with the browridges are intermediate between Neandertal and early modern European form. Nevertheless, a thorough analysis of the morphology of this specimen, in ontogenetic and regional contexts, leads to the conclusion that it cannot be excluded from the Neandertal range of variation. We conclude that the most parsimonious explanation for this 130 ka specimen is that it should be regarded as a Neandertal.

Direct radiocarbon dates for Vindija G(1) and Velika Pecína late Pleistocene hominid remains.

New accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon dates taken directly on human remains from the Late Pleistocene sites of Vindija and Velika Pecina in the Hrvatsko Zagorje of Croatia are presented. Hominid specimens from both sites have played critical roles in the development of current perspectives on modern human evolutionary emergence in Europe. Dates of approximately 28 thousand years (ka) before the present (B.P.) and approximately 29 ka B.P. for two specimens from Vindija G(1) establish them as the most recent dated Neandertals in the Eurasian range of these archaic humans. The human frontal bone from Velika Pecina, generally considered one of the earliest representatives of modern humans in Europe, dated to approximately 5 ka B.P., rendering it no longer pertinent to discussions of modern human origins. Apart from invalidating the only radiometrically based example of temporal overlap between late Neandertal and early modern human fossil remains from within any region of Europe, these dates raise the question of when early modern humans first dispersed into Europe and have implications for the nature and geographic patterning of biological and cultural interactions between these populations and the Neandertals.

The Middle/Upper Paleolithic interface and the relationship of Neanderthals and early modern humans in the Hrvatsko Zagorje, Croatia.

This paper presents the first detailed analysis of the artefacts from the Mousterian level G3 at Vindija Cave and a revision of the artefact analysis for the early Upper Paleolithic levels (j, i) at Velika Pecina, both in Croatia. Combined with an assessment of the artefacts from the crucial G1 level at Vindija, results of these analyses are used to argue that the combination of Middle and Upper Paleolithic elements in the upper G complex at Vindija is not necessarily the result of geological mixing but may well represent a natural cultural assemblage. Some Upper Paleolithic elements are possibly derived from the local Mousterian, while others result from extraneous cultural influences into this region. Interestingly, currently available radiocarbon dates indicate that Neanderthals (Vindija level G1) and early modern humans (Velika Pecina) were penecontemporaneous in this region at ca. 33 ka, or perhaps somewhat earlier if the radiocarbon dates are taken as minimum age estimates. Therefore some Upper Paleolithic tools associated with the Vindija G1 Neanderthals, such as bone points, may result from imitation of or trade with early modern people. While there is external influence on the development of the early Upper Paleolithic in this region, it exhibits a unique character which does not conform to that of classic Western or Central European Aurignacian.

Chronological changes in stone tool assemblages from Krapina (Croatia).

This study presents the results of the first recent analysis of stone tool assemblages from Krapina (Croatia). All assemblages are Pleistocene in age and many are associated with human remains, the Krapina Neandertals. The assemblages are described typologically and technologically, and subtle chronological changes in raw material selection and technology of tool blank production are observed. These changes involve increasingly sophisticated and selective use of lithic materials. Changing artefact assemblages are considered in light of variability in the hominids from Krapina, and are interpreted as reflecting behavioral change among Neandertals rather than between Neandertal and modern human populations.

Linear assessment of the thoroughbred horse: an approach to conformation evaluation.

A linear assessment trait evaluation system is proposed to allow quantitative description of the static conformation of the horse. Measurements were made on 27 selected traits. The system was tested initially for repeatability of measurements on 4 horses. Twenty-one of the selected traits were satisfactory and 6 proved unsatisfactory in terms of reproducibility. A population of 101, superior 2- and 3-year-old Thoroughbreds and 19 premium Thoroughbred stallions were similarly assessed. More than 65% of the traits exhibited large (CV > 10%) phenotypic variation within the sampled population. It is proposed that such a system of static conformation assessment, in conjunction with a similar system for dynamic linear assessment, would provide useful quantitative selection criteria in the description and breeding of horses.

Cross-validation of non-exercise predictions of VO2peak in women.

The purpose of this investigation was to cross-validate non-exercise (N-Ex %fat and N-Ex BMI) models for predicting VO2peak in females, and to evaluate the validity of these models in estimating fitness status, based on a < 9 METs cardiovascular fitness/health-risk criterion. Subjects were 165 females who completed the PA-R activity scale and were evaluated for VO2peak and body composition. The cross-validation statistics for the N-Ex %fat and N-Ex BMI models were: ryy' = 0.86, E = 6.3 (ml.kg-1.min-1), and ryy' = 0.81, E = 6.9 (ml.kg-1.min-1), respectively. Both models were found to accurately identify 87% of the subjects with VO2peak < 9 METs. The statistics associated with the < 9 MET criterion were: ryy' = 0.73, E = 3.4 (ml.kg-1.min-1), and ryy' = 0.80, E = 4.5 (ml.kg-1.min-1), for N-Ex %fat and N-Ex BMI, respectively. The N-Ex models yielded values similar to those reported previously (Jackson, A. S., S. N. Blair, M. T. Mahar, L. T. Wier, R. M. Ross, and J. E. Stuteville. Prediction of functional aerobic capacity without exercise testing. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 22:863-870, 1990). When exercise testing is not an option, the present N-Ex models provide an alternative method for predicting VO2peak in females.

Brief communication: additional cranial remains from Vindija cave, Croatia.

Two additional cranial specimens from Vindija cave, Croatia, are described. One specimen is a zygomatic, providing the first information about the midfacial anatomy of the Vindija hominids. The other specimen is a frontal/supraorbital torus fragment. Both specimens exhibit morphology typically associated with Neandertals. They derive from level G1 and provide further indication that both the level G3 and G1 hominids at Vindija represent Neandertals.

The heart rate VO2 relationship of aerobic dance: a comparison of target heart rate methods.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption (VO2) for aerobic dance exercise. Therefore, eleven females completed 20 minutes of aerobic dance with continuous monitoring of HR and VO2. These physiological responses were analyzed with correlation/regression techniques. The results showed that for aerobic dance to produce a response in excess of 50% of VO2 max, the target HR must be approximately 80% of the age-predicted HR max or greater. In contrast, previously reported data for treadmill running shows that 50% of VO2 max is achieved at approximately 65% of age-predicted HR max in females. The maximum heart rate reserve (Karvonen) method was also found to underestimate the actual VO2 of AD. With the Karvonen method, the target heart rate must approximate 65% of maximum HR reserve in order to elicit a VO2 response which is representative of 50% of VO2 max. These data support recent research which illustrates that target heart rate prescriptions derived from treadmill testing may fail to accurately place AD participants in the recommended training zone.

Models and realities in modern human origins: the African fossil evidence.

The recent application of such chronometric techniques as electron spin resonance (ESR), thermoluminescence (TL), and uranium series dating has had a significant impact on perceptions of modern human origins. Claims for the presence of anatomically modern humans in Africa prior to 100 ka and for the transition leading to modern Africans at an even earlier date have been made, partly based on results of these techniques. However, a careful examination of the pertinent record shows that these claims are not unequivocally supported by the available fossil and chronological evidence.

The incidence of abnormal limb development in the Irish thoroughbred from birth to 18 months.

A two part survey was carried out in Irish Thoroughbred horses in 1988 and 1989 to establish the incidence and prevalence of developmental skeletal problems, particularly possible manifestations of developmental orthopaedic disease (DOD). Survey One was a retrospective study based on a questionnaire involving the foal crops of 46 stud farms for 3 successive seasons; the 1711 animals initially documented represented 10.46% of Irish foal registrations. The second survey involved repeated monitoring of the 1988 foal crop from birth to 18 months of age on 17 stud farms. The 248 foals initially examined represented 4.24% of foal registrations. Treatment for DOD was deemed necessary for 11.3% of the animals in Survey One. Angular limb deformities and physeal dysplasia ("epiphysitis") together constituted 72.9% of the cases treated. The peak incidence of DOD problems occurred between weaning and the end of December. More than half the animals treated (53.9%) recovered completely, ie achieved expected sale value as yearlings, 27.5% of those treated showed incomplete recovery and mild to moderate loss of sale value and the remaining 18.7% were killed or lost much of their sale value. In the second survey, while 67% of animals exhibited some form of DOD, the incidence and severity of problems treated were not significantly different from those of farms in Survey One. Again, physeal dysplasia and angular limb deformity were the predominant clinical conditions and their severity was greatest during the early winter. During the suckling phase colts had a significantly greater incidence of DOD. At all other stages the incidence and severity of DOD was similar in both sexes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Intonation and fundamental frequency in male-to-female transsexuals.

Twenty speakers, diagnosed as male-to-female transsexuals, produced conversational recordings of speech and voice. The samples were submitted to perceptual evaluations and to acoustic analysis by means of a Visi-Pitch, Apple IIe microcomputer system. Transsexuals categorized as having female voices had higher fundamental frequencies (fo), less extensive downward intonations, a higher percentage of upward intonations and downward shifts, and a smaller percentage of level intonations and level shifts than transsexuals categorized as having male voices. The lowest average fo identified as belonging to a female speaker was 155 Hz. Higher (more feminine) ratings on the masculinity-femininity dimension correlated with fo (r = .89), percentage of level shifts (r = -.67), percentage of downward shifts (r = .50), percentage of level intonations (r = -.43), and percentage of upward intonations (r = .40). Findings are discussed in terms of the relative perceptual salience of average fundamental frequency and patterns of intonation for female voice quality.

Is Low-Impact Aerobic Dance an Effective Cardiovascular Workout?

In brief: Ten women performed four different aerobic dance routines in a randomized crossover study to evaluate energy expenditure. The routines consisted of the following combinations: low intensity, low impact; high intensity, low impact; low intensity, high impact; and high intensity, high impact. The women warmed up for five minutes, then did a 20-minute routine. Metabolic measures were monitored by means of open circuit spirometry and heart rates measured by ECG. Statistical analyses showed that for both high and low intensities, the high-impact routines required a significantly greater energy expenditure, regardless of heart rate. Thus for low-impact dance to meet the minimum guidelines for exercise suggested by the American College of Sports Medicine, it should be performed at high intensity.