Craniofacial architectural constraints and their importance for reconstructing the early Homo skull KNM-ER 1470.
OBJECTIVE
Our objective is to exploit architectural constraint for the analysis and interpretation of craniofacial form, which we apply here to the reconstruction of the early Homo cranium KNM-ER 1470. We are motivated to perform this study because in the absence of biological criteria our preconceptions are likely to govern our concept of craniofacial form.


METHODS
We reassembled the fragmented parts--left and right halves of the calvaria and the face--according to mammalian craniofacial architectural constraints described by Donald H. Enlow and colleagues.


RESULTS
When evaluated on a biological premise, KNM-ER 1470 is found to have a more prognathic midface than commonly appreciated. The relationship between facial prognathism and cranial capacity also provides an estimate downward for this specimen, from 752cc to ca. 700cc.


CONCLUSIONS
Awareness of our preconceptions is critical to the performance of relatively unbiased research in fields characterized by interpretations of morphology. When perceptual bias is relatively minimized, applied here as an architecturally constrained of KNM-ER 1470 craniofacial skeleton, we are able to provide the scientific community with a more tractable Gestalt perspective of form.
Bromage
Timothy G
TG
Department of Biomaterials & Biomimetics, New York University College of Dentistry, 345 East 24th Street, New York, NY 10010, USA. tim.bromage@nyu.edu
McMahon
James M
JM
Thackeray
J Francis
JF
Kullmer
Ottmar
O
Hogg
Russell
R
Rosenberger
Alfred L
AL
Schrenk
Friedemann
F
Enlow
Donald H
DH
D000818:Animals; D000885:Anthropology, Physical / Q000379:methods; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005580:Fossils; D015186:Hominidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D010163:Paleontology; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology*