A late Neandertal femur from Les Rochers-de-Villeneuve, France.
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.
Beauval
Cédric
C
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
Maureille
Bruno
B
Lacrampe-Cuyaubère
François
F
Serre
David
D
Peressinotto
David
D
Bordes
Jean-Guillaume
JG
Cochard
David
D
Couchoud
Isabelle
I
Dubrasquet
David
D
Laroulandie
Véronique
V
Lenoble
Arnaud
A
Mallye
Jean-Baptiste
JB
Pasty
Sylvain
S
Primault
Jérôme
J
Rohland
Nadin
N
Pääbo
Svante
S
Trinkaus
Erik
E
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
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial