Numerical description of selected endo- and ectocranial dimensions in Homo sapiens and the three Homo heidelbergensis: Kabwe, Atapuerca and Petralona.
Investigation of hominid cranial morphology is of particular importance for those dealing with questions concerning both ontogenetic and phylogenetic aspects in the genus Homo. The present study provides a numerical description of several regions of extant human crania and, in addition, mid-Pleistocene crania, given in distances and angles. This study is seen as a basic preparatory work that is most useful for further investigation on cranial development in hominids. The sample used consisted of 60 recent adult human crania as well as stereolithographic models of three H. heidelbergensis crania: Kabwe, Atapuerca and Petralona. 12 ecto- and 20 endocranial landmarks were selected and 3D-coordinates taken on each cranium using a 3D Polhemus 3Space FASTRAK tracking system. From the resulting data set, 21 ectocranial and 17 endocranial distances were calculated, in addition to 41 angles of the ectocranium and 21 angles of the endocranium; the measurements are presented in tables, serving as a reference database.
Bernhard
M
M
Institute for Anthropology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. m.bernhard@bios.at
Schäfer
K
K
Seidler
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000885:Anthropology, Physical; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002508:Cephalometry; D005260:Female; D005580:Fossils; D049690:History, Ancient; D015186:Hominidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology*