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Objectives: Around the aim of gaining knowledge on the secular trends in nutritional status of the Spanish population, we found a collection of historical records compiled by La Institucion Libre de Ensenanza and their alumni association along 47 years. These data had been collected from boys and girls attending summer camps, with a policy of improving health of children with unfavorable socioeconomic conditions. The objective is to extract all possible information about growth changes, and eventually any interpretation related to status of the originating families. Materials and methods: Primary data were collected from both unpublished manuscripts containing the original records and publications of the organizing institutions. They had been gathered from 86 summer camps in Spain from 1887 to 1934. In these camps, detailed anthropometric data were collected from every attendee, including body height and weight. The sample population amounts to 1,791 boys and 1,281 girls, between 7 and 16 years of age. Results: Body height and weight, pooled by camp year, age and sex, displayed variable secular increases. A similar observation appears for the body mass index (BMI). As a complement, a comparison was done to contemporary published references from both Spanish and international studies. Discussion: Height, weight, and BMI from the camps may be judged as retardation of growth and malnutrition by modern standards but it is not the case when coetaneous references are considered: no overall significant differences were found with respect to several publications from Spanish and European populations.

Paleopathology contributes to the knowledge of health and disease in past populations. In the case of tuberculosis, paleopathological research contributes to a better understanding of the antiquity and spread of the disease around the globe, as well as in Portugal. These aspects are the objectives of this work. Genomic research on the Koch bacillus indicates a co-evolution with African Homo sapiens. However, macroscopic, microscopic, imaging and biomolecular analyzes of human skeletal remains suggest that tuberculosis (TB) began to affect humans during the Neolithic period. For several decades the paleopathological diagnosis of tuberculosis was essentially based on the identification of Pott’s disease. More recently, the study of identified skeletal collections has revealed a statistically significant association between both new bone formation on the visceral surface of the ribs and hypertrophic osteoarthropathy and cause of death by pulmonary tuberculosis. Therefore, these skeletal signs have been used to assist in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary TB. Portugal, as in many other countries, notably European countries, was greatly affected by tuberculosis. However, the paleopathological record in the national territory can be considered quite scarce. Amongst the 8000 individuals studied from archaeological excavations, only 81 have bone changes compatible with the disease. Continued research on human and animal osteological remains will certainly bring new developments concerning the antiquity, evolution and spread of tuberculosis across populations and continents., A paleopatologia contribui para o conhecimento da saúde e da doença em populações do passado. No caso particular da tuberculose auxilia na pesquisa que pretende determinar a antiguidade e a dispersão da doença pelo mundo, bem como as evidências existentes em Portugal. Estes aspetos constituem os objetivos deste trabalho. As pesquisas genómicas ao bacilo de Koch indicam uma coevolução com o Homo sapiens a partir de África. No entanto, análises macroscópicas, microscópicas, imagiológicas e biomoleculares dos vestígios osteológicos humanos apontam para que a tuberculose tenha começado a afetar a humanidade no período Neolítico. Durante várias décadas o diagnóstico paleopatológico da tuberculose fez-se, essencialmente, pela identificação do Mal de Pott. Mais recentemente, fruto de estudos em coleções osteológicas identificadas, verificou-se uma associação estatisticamente significativa entre a formação de osso novo na superfície visceral das costelas e a osteoartropatia hipertrófica nos indivíduos que tiveram tuberculose registada como causa de morte e, portanto, estas lesões começaram a ser usadas no diagnóstico diferencial desta doença. Portugal, tal como muitos outros países, maioritariamente europeus, foi bastante afetado pela tuberculose. No entanto, o registo paleopatológico em território nacional pode ser considerado escasso. Dos mais de 8000 indivíduos estudados provenientes de escavações arqueológicas em território português apenas 81 apresentam alterações ósseas compatíveis com a doença. A continuação das pesquisas em vestígios osteológicos humanos e de animais irá, certamente, trazer novos desenvolvimentos acerca da antiguidade, evolução e dispersão da tuberculose pelas populações e continentes.

Los científicos tienen un importante rol en el desarrollo de interfaces entre el conocimiento científico producido y las escuelas y/o el público en general. En Portugal, sin embargo, la transferencia de conocimiento entre las universidades y el público fue una actividad desvalorizada durante décadas. Con el objetivo de contrarrestar esta tendencia, una organización científica sin fines de lucro llamada Grupo de Estudio en Evolución Humana, con lugar de trabajo en el Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida de la Universidad de Coimbra, ha desarrollado desde 2005 un conjunto de actividades/talleres pedagógicos y experimentales en Portugal y en el extranjero en el campo de antropología biológica, bioarqueología y evolución humana. Entre ellas, el taller “La danza de los esqueletos” tiene el objetivo de introducir el rol del esqueleto en el balance fisiológico del cuerpo humano, así como aclarar la importancia de recuperar restos de esqueletos humanos a partir de contextos arqueológicos para reconstruir la historia y la evolución de poblaciones pasadas. El componente práctico de éste consiste en un juego sobre un tablero humano gigante, compuesto de preguntas acerca de la biología y anatomía de un esqueleto humano, que finaliza en la simulación de una excavación en una caja de arena. Nuestra experiencia en Portugal nos permite concluir que este tipo de acercamientos es bien aceptado por los estudiantes (de escuela primaria y secundaria) y maestros, constituyendo un complemento óptimo de la enseñanza formal. Estos talleres pueden ser fácilmente adaptados; de acuerdo con esto, invitamos a los investigadores a desarrollar estas actividades en sus países.

The article reports the findings of a wide-ranging investigative study, designed to produce a ‘snapshot’ of Brazilian Biological Anthropology based on quantitative, qualitative, historical-documentary and bibliographic data. It includes excerpts from a series of interviews given by four Brazilian researchers who identify their area of work as Biological Anthropology, interspersed with other sources of information. These excerpts are organized into the following topics: (a) the peripheral status of Biological Anthropology within the wider field of anthropology in Brazil; (b) the relations between institutional affiliation and professional activity; and (c) the visibility of the area within the country and abroad. The aim is to provide a contribution, albeit preliminary, to a survey of the studies and discussions concerning the biological dimension of Anthropology in Brazil, in all its different aspects, especially the contemporary situation. O artigo traz a lume informações recolhidas a partir de um amplo estudo investigativo, o qual procurou delinear uma espécie de “instantâneo” da Antropologia Biológica brasileira a partir de dados quantitativos, qualitativos, histórico-documentais e bibliográficos. Nele estão dispostos excertos extraídos de uma série de quatro depoimentos concedidos por pesquisadores brasileiros, os quais consideram-se atuantes na área de Bioantropologia, entremeados por informações de outra natureza. Esses excertos encontram-se organizados em tópicos a saber: (a) o lugar periférico ocupado pela Bioantropologia no campo antropológico nacional; (b) as relações entre filiação institucional e exercício profissional; (c) a visibilidade da área dentro e fora do país. Espera-se, com isso, uma contribuição, ainda que inicial, para uma retomada dos estudos e discussões devotados à contraparte biológica da Antropologia no Brasil, nos seus mais diferentes aspectos, especialmente na contemporaneidade.

The D9S1120 locus exhibits a population-specific allele of 9 repeats (9RA) in all Native American and two Siberian populations currently studied, but it is absent in other worldwide populations. Although this feature has been used in anthropological genetic studies, its impact on the evaluation of the structure and genetic relations among Native American populations has been scarcely assessed. Consequently, the aim of this study was to evaluate the anthropological impact of D9S1120 when it was added to STR population datasets in Mexican Native American groups. We analyzed D9S1120 by PCR and capillary electrophoresis (CE) in 1117 unrelated individuals from 13 native groups from the north and west of Mexico. Additional worldwide populations previously studied with D9S1120 and/or 15 autosomal STRs (Identifier kit) were included for interpopulation analyses. We report statistical results of forensic importance for D9S1120. On average, the modal alleles were the Native American-specific allele 9RA (0.3254) and 16 (0.3362). Genetic distances between Native American and worldwide populations were estimated. When D9S1120 was included in the 15 STR population dataset, we observed improvements for admixture estimation in Mestizo populations and for representing congruent genetic relationships in dendrograms. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) based on D9S1120 confirms that most of the genetic variability in the Mexican population is attributable to their Native American backgrounds, and allows the detection of significant intercontinental differentiation attributed to the exclusive presence of 9RA in America. Our findings demonstrate the contribution of D9S1120 to a better understanding of the genetic relationships and structure among Mexican Native groups.

Although rarely reported in the anthropological literature, rib fractures are commonly found during the analysis of human skeletal remains of past and modern populations. This lack of published data precludes comparison between studies and restricts an accurate understanding either of the mechanisms involved in thoracic injuries or their impact on past societies. The present study aimed: 1) to report rib fracture prevalence in 197 individuals, 109 males, and 88 females, with ages at death ranging from 13 to 88 years old, from the Human Identified Skeletal Collection, Museu Bocage, Portugal (late 19th-middle 20th centuries); 2) to test the hypothesis that a higher prevalence of rib stress fractures existed in the 133 individuals who died from respiratory diseases, in a period before antibiotics. The macroscopic analysis revealed 23.9% (n = 47) of individuals with broken ribs. 2.6% (n = 124) out of 4,726 ribs observed were affected. Males presented more rib fractures, and a significantly higher prevalence was noted for older individuals. Fractures were more frequently unilateral (n = 34), left sided (n = 19) and mainly located on the shaft of ribs from the middle thoracic wall. Nineteen individuals presented adjacent fractured ribs. Individuals who died from pulmonary diseases were not preferentially affected. However, a higher mean rate of fractures was found in those who died from pneumonia, a scenario still common nowadays. Since rib involvement in chest wall injury and its related outcomes are important issues both for paleopathology and forensic anthropology, further investigations are warranted.

This study describes and compares two hyoid bones from the middle Pleistocene site of the Sima de los Huesos in the Sierra de Atapuerca (Spain). The Atapuerca SH hyoids are humanlike in both their morphology and dimensions, and they clearly differ from the hyoid bones of chimpanzees and Australopithecus afarensis. Their comparison with the Neandertal specimens Kebara 2 and SDR-034 makes it possible to begin to approach the question of temporal variation and sexual dimorphism in this bone in fossil humans. The results presented here show that the degree of metric and anatomical variation in the fossil sample was similar in magnitude and kind to living humans. Modern hyoid morphology was present by at least 530 kya and appears to represent a shared derived feature of the modern human and Neandertal evolutionary lineages inherited from their last common ancestor.

The distinction between normal and pathological bony alterations during human skeletal remains analysis is one of the biggest challenges ascribed to the paleopathological practice. The frontiers of this dichotomy are often difficult to identify what restrict, or even precludes, the achievement of a specific retrospective diagnosis. The investigation herein depicted aims to exemplify the limits of the paleopathological interpretation. It is reported a case study from the Human Identified Skeleton Collection housed at the Museu Bocage (Lisboa, Portugal), namely that from a 35 years old woman who died, in 1916, from pulmonary tuberculosis. The main skeletal changes found, through macroscopical observation, were detected at the distal third of the left clavicle that presented acromial bulking, perforated by an abnormal canal, and cortical bifurcation confined to the region between the beginning of the clavicular lateral third and the conoid tubercle area. Although the radiographic analysis indicated low medullary density in the affected area no evidence of healing fracture callus was found. From the etiological entities considered for the differential diagnosis the most reliable ones are: 1) a poor consolidated fracture (intra-uterine, obstetric, or during early ages), which subsequent remodelling process incorporated the adjacent arterial and nervous structures resulting in the formation of a canal surround by cartilaginous tissue; 2) incomplete unilateral bifurcation of the clavicle. In the present case study, like in many others, it was impossible to accomplish a retrospective diagnosis for the etiology of the lesions described. Nevertheless, and despite the difficulties and limits of the paleopathological interpretation, the study of past human skeletons is often dominated by a diagnosis obsession instead of both detailed descriptions and exhaustive exploration and discussion of the differential diagnosis for the bony anomalies.

The experimental method is criticized and usually left behind in social sciences due to different reasons. Anyway, when resolving certain problems is treated, some biological anthropology researchers -Washbum and Pucciarelli initially- have recurred to the experimental method. This methodological changement a rupture in the discipline. From a epistemological perspective this arguments are very significant because they answer the mentioned objections against the use of the experimental method in the anthropology domain and social sciences. This is also very important in history of sciences, as much for the consolidation of the experimental conception in the biological anthropology as for the establishment, inside of that community in Argentina, of a new investigation strategy whit the following episodes of changes in this scientific community. El método experimental es criticado y usualmente dejado de lado en las ciencias sociales por distintas razones. Sin embargo, al intentar resolver ciertos problemas algunos investigadores de Antropología Biológica -inicialmente Washburn y Pucciarelli recurrieron al método experimental. Este cambio metodológico significo una ruptura en la disciplina. Desde una perspectiva epistemológica esos planteos son muy significativos pues contestan las objeciones mencionadas contra la utilización del método experimental en el ámbito de la antropología y de las ciencias sociales. También es muy importante en la historia de la ciencia, tanto por la consolidación de la concepción experimental en la Antropología Biológica como por el establecimiento, dentro de esa comunidad en Argentina, de una nueva estrategia de investigación con los consiguientes episodios de cambios en esta comunidad científica. Fil: Scarano, Eduardo R. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; Argentina. Para acceder al artículo utilice el link: http://revistascientificas.filo.uba.ar/index.php/runa/article/view/1261

¿Tiene el racismo fundamentos científicos? ¿Es siquiera la «raza» un concepto científico? Hallar una respuesta clara a un tema vulgarmente tan controvertido y confuso cobra importancia cuando no faltan quienes siguen invocando pretendidos argumentos racistas para descargar fobias internas y externas. No todo rechazo de lo extraño supone racismo, y es algo que conviene pensar para averiguar las causas reales y para respetar el legítimo derecho a preservar la propia identidad cultural. Pero, por la misma razón, interesa clarificar el problema. Este artículo revisa los avances de la genética de poblaciones, que arrumbaron las tipologías raciales de la antigua antropología física, sustituyéndolas por la noción de «población» con una dosificación genética variable. Luego, tocan las relaciones entre raza y cultura, que llegan a invertir la hipótesis racista. Por último, ampliando el panorama, considera el prejuicio racista como un caso particular de etnocentrismo y de antropocentrismo., Does racism have a scientific foundation? Is «race» even a scientific concept? It is important to find a clear answer to such a commonly controversial and confused topic, especially as we continue to invoke racist arguments to feed our internal and external phobias. Not all rejection of the stranger implies racism. Thus it is necessary to find out the real causes of racism, and to respect the legitimate right of the preservation of one´s own cultural identity. But, for the same reason, it is interesting to clarify the problem. This text reviews the achievements of the study of population genetics while rejecting the idea of racial typing as determined by the old physical anthropology. The current concept is «population», which involves variable genetic characteristics. The article shows that the relationship between race and culture ends up inverting the racist hypothesis. Lastly, enlarging the panorama, it considers racist prejudice as a particular case of ethnocentrism and anthropocentrism., Grupo de Investigación Antropología y Filosofía (SEJ-126). Universidad de Granada

Few European sites have yielded human dental remains safely dated to the end of MIS 4/beginning of MIS 3. One of those sites is Marillac (Southwestern France), a collapsed karstic cave where archeological excavations (1967–1980) conducted by B. Vandermeersch unearthed numerous faunal and human remains, as well as a few Mousterian Quina tools. The Marillac sinkhole was occasionally used by humans to process the carcasses of different prey, but there is no evidence for a residential use of the site, nor have any hearths been found. Rare carnivore bones were also discovered, demonstrating that the sinkhole was seasonally used, not only by Neanderthals, but also by predators across several millennia. The lithostratigraphic units containing the human remains were dated to ∼60 kyr. The fossils consisted of numerous fragments of skulls and jaws, isolated teeth and several post-cranial bones, many of them with traces of perimortem manipulations. For those already published, their morphological characteristics and chronostratigraphic context allowed their attribution to Neanderthals. This paper analyzes sixteen unpublished human teeth (fourteen permanent and two deciduous) by investigating the external morphology and metrical variation with respect to other Neanderthal remains and a sample from modern populations. We also investigate their enamel thickness distribution in 2D and 3D, the enamel-dentine junction morphology (using geometric morphometrics) of one molar and two premolars, the roots and the possible expression of taurodontism, as well as pathologies and developmental defects. The anterior tooth use and paramasticatory activities are also discussed. Morphological and structural alterations were found on several teeth, and interpreted in light of human behavior (tooth-pick) and carnivores' actions (partial digestion). The data are interpreted in the context of the available information for the Eurasian Neanderthals.

Aborda o processo de constituição do acervo de instrumentos científicos do Setor de Antropologia Biológica (antiga Divisão de Antropologia Física) do Museu Nacional. Prioriza-se a análise da coleção de instrumentos de antropometria. Pensar o instrumental de medição antropométrica relacionando-o com as demais coleções do acervo de antropologia biológica e com a atuação dos pesquisadores do Museu Nacional, em seus respectivos contextos sociopolíticos e acadêmicos, oferece uma visão privilegiada do panorama científico na passagem do século XIX para o XX. _______________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT Analyzes the formation of the collection of scientific instruments at the Museu Nacional’s Biological Anthropology Sector (previously known as the Physical Anthropology Division), Brazil. It focuses on the instruments used for anthropometric measurements. By drawing relations between this collection and other of the institution’s biological anthropology collections, as well as the activities of Museu Nacional researchers within their sociopolitical and academic contexts, we arrive at a privileged view of the scientific methods and theories in use in the final decades of the nineteenth century and beginning of the twentieth.