Paleobiology and comparative morphology of a late Neandertal sample from El Sidron, Asturias, Spain.
Fossil evidence from the Iberian Peninsula is essential for understanding Neandertal evolution and history. Since 2000, a new sample approximately 43,000 years old has been systematically recovered at the El Sidrón cave site (Asturias, Spain). Human remains almost exclusively compose the bone assemblage. All of the skeletal parts are preserved, and there is a moderate occurrence of Middle Paleolithic stone tools. A minimum number of eight individuals are represented, and ancient mtDNA has been extracted from dental and osteological remains. Paleobiology of the El Sidrón archaic humans fits the pattern found in other Neandertal samples: a high incidence of dental hypoplasia and interproximal grooves, yet no traumatic lesions are present. Moreover, unambiguous evidence of human-induced modifications has been found on the human remains. Morphologically, the El Sidrón humans show a large number of Neandertal lineage-derived features even though certain traits place the sample at the limits of Neandertal variation. Integrating the El Sidrón human mandibles into the larger Neandertal sample reveals a north-south geographic patterning, with southern Neandertals showing broader faces with increased lower facial heights. The large El Sidrón sample therefore augments the European evolutionary lineage fossil record and supports ecogeographical variability across Neandertal populations.
Rosas
Antonio
A
Departamento de Paleobiología, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), Calle José Gutierrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain. arosas@mncn.csic.es
Martínez-Maza
Cayetana
C
Bastir
Markus
M
García-Tabernero
Antonio
A
Lalueza-Fox
Carles
C
Huguet
Rosa
R
Ortiz
José Eugenio
JE
Julià
Ramón
R
Soler
Vicente
V
de Torres
Trinidad
T
Martínez
Enrique
E
Cañaveras
Juan Carlos
JC
Sánchez-Moral
Sergio
S
Cuezva
Soledad
S
Lario
Javier
J
Santamaría
David
D
de la Rasilla
Marco
M
Fortea
Javier
J
D000717:Anatomy, Comparative; D000818:Animals; D000886:Anthropometry; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005580:Fossils; D005843:Geography; D015186:Hominidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D010164:Paleopathology; D013030:Spain; D014070:Tooth / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D004247:DNA