title: A late Neandertal femur from Les Rochers-de-Villeneuve, France.
abstract: In 2002, a Neandertal partial femoral diaphysis was discovered at Les Rochers-de-Villeneuve (Vienne, France). Radiocarbon dated to approximately 40,700 14C years before present, this specimen is one of the most recent Middle Paleolithic Neandertals. The diaphysis derives from an archeological level indicating alternating human and carnivore (mostly hyena) occupation of the cave, reinforcing the close proximity and probable competition of Middle Paleolithic humans with large carnivores for resources and space. Morphological aspects of the diaphysis and ancient DNA extracted from it indicate that it is aligned with the Neandertals and is distinct from early modern humans. However, its midshaft cortical bone distribution places it between other Middle Paleolithic Neandertals and the Châtelperronian Neandertal from La Roche-à-Pierrot, supporting a pattern of changing mobility patterns among late Middle Paleolithic Neandertals on the eve of modern human dispersals into Europe.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Préhistoire et de Géologie du Quaternaire and Laboratoire d'Anthropologie des Populations du Passé, Unité Mixte de Recherche, Université de Bordeaux, Talence, France. c.beauval@ipgq.u-bordeaux1.fr
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beauval
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maureille
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lacrampe-Cuyaubère
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Serre
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peressinotto
authors.forename: Jean-Guillaume
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Bordes
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cochard
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Couchoud
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dubrasquet
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Laroulandie
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lenoble
authors.forename: Jean-Baptiste
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Mallye
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pasty
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Primault
authors.forename: Nadin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rohland
authors.forename: Svante
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pääbo
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trinkaus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005269:Femur / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005580:Fossils; D005602:France; D015186:Hominidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial