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We conducted a preliminary field survey, covering two areas in the Somali Region of Ethiopia: Satkawhini (SKW) and Galila (GLL). The PEER (Palaeontological Ethiopian-European Research) - Team is led by the Inst. for Anthrop., Univ. of Vienna, and contributed by the Inst. of Geol. and Petr., Univ. of Vienna, the Natl. Prehist. Ethnogr. Mus. in Rome, the Dept. of Geol. and Palaeont., State Mus. of Hessia, Darmstadt, and the Dept. of Anthrop., SUNY Albany. The areas investigated are situated in the upper parts of the Stratoid Basalts of the Afar Group. The formations predominantly comprise sedimentary deposits and to a minor extent volcanic layers of basaltic and acidic chemistry. The sediments were settled in a lacustrine environment, interfingered by several fluvial facies. We discovered vertebrate remains (cranial and postcranial) of large mammals (Equidae, Rhinoceratidae, Dinotheriidae, Elephantidae, Bovidae, Suidae, Hippopotamidae, Giraffidae, Cercopithecidea, and Hominidae), reptiles (Crocodylia and Chelonia) and fishes. A fossil hominid remain was collected at Galila. The specimen (GLL 33) consists of a lower right M3 preserving a virtually complete crown. Most of the mesial root is lacking. The specimen was re-deposited but its generally good preservation conditions suggest no far transportation. The original sedimentary beds are assumed in the upper section of a close profile towards SW. The specimen is attributed to the genus Australopithecus, based on general crown size/shape, enamel thickness, and occlusal wear pattern. In the SKW fossiliferous region, a number of stone tools representing different lithic technologies/traditions (Olduwan, Acheulean, and abundant Levallois-like silex tools) were discovered.

Comparative analysis of external bone shape, size, and cortical bone distribution evidenced functional adaptations in the post-cranial skeleton of Japanese macaques (M. fuscata) trained for bipedal standing and walking (Nakatsukasa et al., 1995). We investigated the structural organization and site-specific degree of anisotropy of the iliac and upper femoral cancellous network in 'Sansuke' (SNK), a male Japanese macaque trained for bipedal standing and walking for about 1-2 hours/day since the age of two years till its death, at ten years. The reference sample included nine iliac bones and twenty-one femurs from non-trained adult males. All the specimens were radiographed in standard conditions and the films analyzed by means of advanced digital images procedures. Numerical estimates of the 'local relative intensity' and 'edge count' allowed the quantification of cancellous network densities. In order to assess the orientation of the bundles, the LFD diagrams (Geraets, 1998) have been used. In SNK, the proximal femur trabecular pattern falls within the normal range of variation. Minor structural differences affect the bundle running from the upper head towards the neck (strengthened in SNK) and the area surrounding the trochanteric fossa (remarkably extended in SNK). Conversely, the iliac cancellous network appears much more structured in SNK and a number of distinctive features are traceable within its blade and corpus. With respect to the normal condition, a thickened bundle is developed in the bipedal macaque along the anterior iliac margin, and a notable structural patterning is found along the sacropubic axis towards the upper margin of the acetabulum. The currently in progress [micro] CTs analysis of the same skeletal sample confirms the radiographic evidence. Supported by the Italian National Research Council (Cultural Heritage Project).

Dental mutilations for decorative purposes are well known archaeologically worldwide. But very little evidence is so far known of dentistry activity for therapeutic reasons in osteological assemblages. During the January-February 2000 archaeological field season of the Neolithic site of Mehrgarh, Balochistan, Pakistan, dated back to the VIII-VII millennia B.C., two permanent molars were recovered from two individuals, single primary depositions, showing clear evidence of artificial drilling on their occlusal surface. Both individuals, adult males, had all their teeth still in the maxilla and mandible, including the drilled ones, despite the bad state of preservation due to soil acidity. This clearly excludes that the two teeth were ornaments hanging on necklaces or similar. The two molars (maxillary first right molar, and a mandibular first left), show a clear unfilled perforation on their occlusal surface. A SEM analysis carried out on both specimens rules out any possible natural cause for such modifications, since clear striations are visible on the borders as well on the inside of the two round cavities. Also, on the bottom of the perforations, notches due to the point of the drill are visible. An enormous quantity of perforated beads recovered in the site testifies the technical skill to produce small and perfect holes with tiny stone-point drills. Both molars show some degree of occlusal wear, with exposure of the dentine below the enamel. Both drilling occurred on the buccal side of the occlusal surface, in areas that were no longer covered by the enamel cup. The position of the perforations, as well the teeth that were perforated, induce to exclude that the treatment was carried out for decoration since it is too back in the mouth to be visible anyway. Rather, it is likely that both molars were treated for possible dental care. The holes do not seem to be associated with any caries, even though the perforations themselves might have erased and smoothed the walls of the caries. The extremely poorly preserved bones did not allow to score any possible other oral pathology that could justify the treatments, even though one of the authors (AC) personally excavated the bones. But unless very extensive, caries are not bound to be associated with abscesses, therefore it may also be likely that no abscesses were present. Nevertheless, this case represents an important as well as one of the most ancient evidences of dentistry so far known in prehistoric populations.

The analysis of bone internal architecture for the comparative assessment of the locomotion-related strains and stresses represents a research approach of great potential value in (palaeo)biology, at the intersection of biomechanics and physical anthropology. While most investigation on primates (including our own one on extant and fossil taxa) concentrated till now on the relationship between trabecular structures and locomotor modes, the potential influence of additional factors--such as body mass, age, sex, bone shape--has not yet been adequately taken into account. By using an original radiographic record representing over 120 specimens from 27 extant primate taxa (including Homo), we investigated macroscopic trabecular patterning at the proximal femur by means of advanced digital image processing techniques, and also detailed and compared textural anisotropy through the calculation of the Line Fraction Deviation index. In the hominoid subsample (n=30), a previously unreported significant correlation (Spearman's Rho up to 0.73) has been found between femoral head size (used as a proxy for body mass) and degree of textural anisotropy. Conversely, while a well-known influence of age on the trabecular structure has been confirmed, no sex-related differences have been detected in our human reference sample (n = 30). When taking differences in body mass into account by using the residuals of multivariate regressions, we could not detect any differences between positional behaviours, supporting similar claims by Fajardo and Muller (2002).

O-18/O-16 ratios in teeth and bones reflect the source of water ingested by an individual. This ratio is mainly controlled by the [delta][sup.18]O of local precipitation and varies with geographical location. This study uses 138 1st and 3rd molars, as well as 43 molar/femur pairs to look for immigrants in the population from Portus Romae, Italy. The site of Portus Romae was an important economic center for the city of Rome during the first few centuries AD. Epigraphic evidence, from the nearby necropolis (Isola Sacra) suggests that some of the people buried there were from the eastern Mediterranean region, particularly Greece; however, most individuals were buried without any `biographical' information concerning place of birth. The results of isotopic analysis for this skeletal series are compared to data from a sample (N=20) of deciduous teeth from modern Roman school children (average [delta][sup.18]O = -5.1 [+ or -] 1.0[per thousand]). Teeth of ancient Romans give values of -7.6 to -3.1[per thousand] (1st molars) and -7.6 to -2.8[per thousand] (3rd molars). Compared to the modern Roman sample, about 27.5% of the individuals from, the necropolis are greater than one standard deviation from the modern mean. The majority of individuals outside this range have lower [delta][sup.18]O values than modern Romans, suggesting that they carne to Rome from northern Europe rather than from regions to the south of Italy (e.g., North Africa). In all but one individual [delta][sup.18]O of bone is greater than associated MI values.

Dental enamel thickness (ET) variation is used as an indicator of dietary habits and of (paleo)environmental/ecolological conditions, and, more importantly, as a diagnostic feature for taxonomic assessment and phylogenetic reconstructions. Nonetheless, a purely qualitative estimate is usually given ('thin' vs. 'thick' enamel; at times, the term 'intermediate' is used). This typology bases on observations realized on permanent teeth only (mostly, on cheek teeth). In addition, currently available reference database for ET in primates (including Homo) do not incorporate information on the cross-sectional (and sex-related) variation. Our research project is designed to quantitatively detail (by means of histological and/or noninvasive [mu]CTs techniques) patterns of ET topographic variation of the primary and secondary dentition in a number of extant primate taxa. The human anterior deciduous dentition has been preliminarily considered Two dental samples have been investigated: (i) the Fatina collection, representing 104 healthy individuals known for sex and clinical history, and (ii) the SCR collection, representing 94 individuals from the Imperial Roman cemetery of Isola Sacra. Distinctly for the labial and the lingual aspect, ET has been measured on histological sections at intervals of 200 [mu]mm along the DEJ. On average, 80 measurements have been taken for each crown, allowing the reconstruction of specific profiles of variation. In both samples, remarkable differences have been detected within each tooth-type and among all the teeth. In both upper and lower dentitions, thickening is shown in mesiodistal direction. Fatina and SCR show overlapping patterns of size variation. No statistically significant sex-related difference has been recorded.

The UA 173 one-million-year-old human hip bone was discovered associated with the erectus-like UA 31 cranium at Uadi Aalad, in the sedimentary basin of Buia, northern Danakil depression of Eritrea (Abbate et al., 1998). The specimen consists of two portions representing most of the iliac blade (i) and the acetabulum and ischium (ii) from a right adult hip bone. UA 173 is almost free from incrustations and preserves macroscopically intact mo8t of its original bone surface. On the medial aspect of the ischium, two parallel 'scratch lines', similar to those resulting from the action of a lithic instrument, were detected during cleaning of the specimen. Interestingly, unequivocal marks of butchering and skinning had been recorded on a number of faunal remains coming from the nearby late Early Pleistocene outcrops. The SEM analysis of high-resolution replicas of the ischial surface revealed a more complex pattern. While some portions of the lines (extended for c. 12 mm) display secondary striae in the main groove, thus suggesting the possible mechanical action of a tool, others distinctly show a concave section, more likely related to a vascular sulcus. Topographic investigation of the whole surface also revealed a number of microdamages of taphonomic nature (weathering agents). In conclusion, also in view of a relatively low frequency reported in the reference literature for medial aspect of the ischium (White, 1992), currently available micromorphological evidence does not adequately support a diagnosis of 'cutmarks' for the UA 173 'scratch lines.'

Previous estimates based on a limited number of observations have suggested an extraordinarily high incidence (>30%) of External Auditory Exostosis (EAE) in a limited skeletal sample from Isola Sacra, the 2nd-3rd century necropolis of Portus Romae (Manzi et al, 1991). Reexamination of the much larger skeletal record (n=1181) now available for Isola Sacra suggests that the incidence was much lower ( In this study both a macroscopic and microscopic analysis of the hyperplastic growths associated with the condition are presented. Findings suggest that a distinction should be made between exostoses, osteomata and normal variation in the cortical bone of the auditory canal. All individuals associated with EAE for whom a sex could be estimated (n=93) were male. Further, a significant cluster of sufferers were located within a single monumental tomb with which a burial club may be associated. In this same tomb the earliest example of a surgical amputation of a limb was also found (Weaver et al., 2000). The combined evidence raises important questions about gender divisions and the construction of identity within the community represented by the necropolis.

Geopaleontological research carried out in the northern Danakil (Afar) Depression of Eritrea by an Italo-Eritrean team resulted in the discovery of several late Early Pleistocene fossiliferous sites in the area of Buia (Abbate et al., 1998). Paleoanthropological findings consist of one-million-year-old cranial (UA 31), postcranial (UA 173), and dental (UA 222 and 369) remains from a single outcrop in Uadi Aalad. The UA 31 cranium expresses a remarkable blend of morphological features in the neurocranium and face. The braincase is long and exceptionally narrow which, combined with its relatively great height, results in an estimated endocranial volume of 900 cc. Based on two associated pelvic fragments (UA 173), we consider UA 31 a probable female, although it has prominent, thick supraorbital tori. There is an especially large zygomatic process filled by a voluminous maxillary sinus. The height of the maxilla probably is the largest found in any known hominid from Pleistocene Africa. We also note the low position of the zygomatic root. There are few comparable specimens from this time period in Africa, but considering earlier ER 3733 and 3883, OH 9) or later (OH 12, Bodo) specimens, UA 31 differs markedly, illustrating the great variability of Early-Middle Pleistocene Homo. The 'Buia Research Project', initiated by the Univ. of Florence and developed in collaboration with the National Museum of Eritrea and the Eritrea Dept. of Mines, is supported by the Italian CNR, the Univ. of Florence, the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the MURST COFIN99, and the L.S.B. Leakey Foundation.