Understanding the Origin of Superficial Bone Changes in Qafzeh 9 Skull (Middle Paleolithic, Southwestern Asia): Contribution of Three‐Dimensional Imaging
Language
en
Article de revue
This item was published in
American Journal of Biological Anthropology. 2025, vol. 186, n° 4, p. e70051
Wiley
English Abstract
Objectives: Deciphering the origins of bone alterations is crucial in paleoanthropology for understanding biological variation and distinguishing between taphonomy, normal anatomy, growth‐related changes, and pathological ...Read more >
Objectives: Deciphering the origins of bone alterations is crucial in paleoanthropology for understanding biological variation and distinguishing between taphonomy, normal anatomy, growth‐related changes, and pathological conditions.Materials and Methods: Qafzeh 9, an early anatomically modern human from Lower Galilee, exhibits three alterations on its frontal bone: a circular lacuna, two parallel grooves, and a flattening near the superior temporal line. Micro‐CT images and 3D reconstructions complement macroscopic observations to determine the etiologies of these features.Results: Our analysis reveals that one of them, the flattening near the superior temporal line, is associated with changes in the diploë.Discussion: Data from four recent modern human samples show that this feature is present in all non‐adult individuals and suggests that the flattening and thinning of the diploë may be related to growth patterns and dental changes. Our results bring new insights for the development of methodologies for age estimation based on frontal bone. This study also enhances our understanding of intra‐site variability at Qafzeh and provides a better understanding of the biological diversity and growth patterns among early anatomically modern humans.Read less <
English Keywords
Early Anatomically Modern Humans
frontal bone
anatomical variant
ontogeny
taphonomy
Origin
Hal importedCollections