Search

Les collections ostéologiques humaines ont été constituées à partir de différentes sources (archéo-anthropologiques, anatomiques ou pathologiques). Leur origine détermine différents niveaux d’intérêt paléopathologique et paléoépidémiologique : les collections pathologiques ont un intérêt essentiellement didactique et les collections identifiées, qu’elles soient d’origine anthropologique ou anatomique, permettent une approche méthodologique et paléoépidémiologique. The collections of human bones were built up from different sources: archaeo-anthropological, anatomical or pathological. Their origin determines different levels of paleopathological and paleoepidemiological interest: the pathological collections have an essentially didactic interest and the identified collections, whether anthropological or anatomical in origin, enable a methodological and paleoepidemiological approach to be adopted. more...

Humans differ from other primates in their significantly lengthened growth period. The persistence of a fetal pattern of brain growth after birth is another important feature of human development1. Here we present the results of an analysis of the 1.8-million-year-old Mojokerto child (Perning 1, Java), the only well preserved skull of a Homo erectus infant, by computed tomography. Comparison with a large series of extant humans and chimpanzees indicates that this individual was about 1 yr (0–1.5 yr) old at death and had an endocranial capacity at 72–84% of an average adult H. erectus. This pattern of relative brain growth resembles that of living apes, but differs from that seen in extant humans. It implies that major differences in the development of cognitive capabilities existed between H. erectus and anatomically modern humans. more...

summary In 2008, a skeleton of a 1 e 2.5-year-old child radiocarbon dated from the 10th e 11th century AD was discovered on the oppidum of La Gran� (Millau, France). It presents multiple cranial osteolytic lesions having punched-out or geographical map-like aspects associated with sequestrum and costal osteitis. A multi 3D digital approach (CT, mCT and virtual reconstruction) enabled us to refine the description and identify the diploic origin of the lytic process. Furthermore, precise observation of the extent of the lesions and associated reorganization of the skeletal micro-structure were possible. From these convergent pieces of evidence, the differential diagnosis led to three possibilities: Langerhans cell histiocytosis, tuberculosis, or Langerhans cell histiocytosis and tuberculosis. more...

International audience

International audience

International audience; The question of pre-neolithic tuberculosis is still open in paleopathological perspective. One of the major interests is to explore what type of infection could have existed around the early stage of animal domestication. Paleopathological lesions evoking skeletal TB were observed on five human skeletons coming from two PPNB sites in Syria, which belongs to the geographical cradle of agriculture. These sites represent respectively pre-domestication phase (Dja'de el Mughara, Northern Syria, 8800-8300 BCE cal.) and early domestication phase (Tell Aswad, Southern Syria, 8200-7600 BCE cal.). MicroCT scan analyses were performed on two specimens (one per site) and revealed microscopic changes in favor of TB infection. Detection of lipid biomarkers is positive for two specimens (one per site). Initial molecular analysis further indicates the presence of TB in one individual from Dja'de. Interestingly, no morphological evidence of TB was observed on animal remains of wild and newly domesticated species, discovered in these sites. These observations strongly suggest the presence of human tuberculosis before domestication and at its early stages. more...

International audience; En l'absence d'éléments dentaires, l'estimation de l'âge au décès des enfants repose sur l'état de maturationosseuse du squelette, pour des pièces fossiles en particulier. À la base du crâne, l'âge de synostose des synchondroses intraoccipitalesantérieure (SIOA) et postérieure (SIOP), ainsi que la forme du foramen magnum, liée à la fermeture de ces deuxsynchondroses, sont étudiés sur une collection de référence (âge et sexe connus). La validité de ces synchondroses commeindicateur de l'âge au décès des enfants et la valeur phylogénétique de la configuration du foramen magnum sont discutées. more...

The Qafzeh site (Lower Galilee, Israel) has yielded the largest Levantine hominin collection from Middle Palaeolithic layers which were dated to circa 90–100 kyrs BP or to marine isotope stage 5b–c. Within the hominin sample, Qafzeh 11, circa 12– 13 yrs old at death, presents a skull lesion previously attributed to a healed trauma. Three dimensional imaging methods allowed us to better explore this lesion which appeared as being a frontal bone depressed fracture, associated with brain damage. Furthermore the endocranial volume, smaller than expected for dental age, supports the hypothesis of a growth delay due to traumatic brain injury. This trauma did not affect the typical human brain morphology pattern of the right frontal and left occipital petalia. It is highly probable that this young individual suffered from personality and neurological troubles directly related to focal cerebral damage. Interestingly this young individual benefited of a unique funerary practice among the south-western Asian burials dated to Middle Palaeolithic. more...

Argon and luminescence dating of fossil shell infills from Trinil in Java, where Homo erectus lived, reveals that the hominin-bearing deposits are younger than previously thought; perforated shells, a shell tool and an engraved shell indicate that Homo erectus ate freshwater mussels, used their shells as tools and was able to create abstract engravings. Homo erectus made tools from shells, and even decorated some of them with what look like intentional incisions. The fossils of the hominid that came to be known as Homo erectus were discovered at Trinil in central Java by Eugene Dubois in 1891. Josephine Joordens and colleagues have been looking over the historic Dubois collections, now in Leiden in the Netherlands, concentrating on the freshwater shells. They find evidence for shellfish consumption by hominins, a shell tool and other shells showing signs of intentional modification. Age determination on the sediment directly associated with the shells show that they were used sometime between 380,000 and 640,000 years ago, well within the time during which Homo erectus lived in Java, and pre-dating the oldest geometric engravings described previously by more than 300,000 years. The manufacture of geometric engravings is generally interpreted as indicative of modern cognition and behaviour1. Key questions in the debate on the origin of such behaviour are whether this innovation is restricted to Homo sapiens, and whether it has a uniquely African origin1. Here we report on a fossil freshwater shell assemblage from the Hauptknochenschicht (‘main bone layer’) of Trinil (Java, Indonesia), the type locality of Homo erectus discovered by Eugene Dubois in 1891 (refs 2 and 3). In the Dubois collection (in the Naturalis museum, Leiden, The Netherlands) we found evidence for freshwater shellfish consumption by hominins, one unambiguous shell tool, and a shell with a geometric engraving. We dated sediment contained in the shells with 40Ar/39Ar and luminescence dating methods, obtaining a maximum age of 0.54 ± 0.10 million years and a minimum age of 0.43 ± 0.05 million years. This implies that the Trinil Hauptknochenschicht is younger than previously estimated. Together, our data indicate that the engraving was made by Homo erectus, and that it is considerably older than the oldest geometric engravings described so far4,5. Although it is at present not possible to assess the function or meaning of the engraved shell, this discovery suggests that engraving abstract patterns was in the realm of Asian Homo erectus cognition and neuromotor control. more...

In the field of archaeology, the constitution of osteological collections having a methodological purpose (reference series) or heritage interest (archaeological collections) is a necessity for anthropology, zooarchaeology, paleontology and paleopathology. These collections raise specific questions about their status and their acquisition terms. Advances of digital sciences in the field of documentation led to the concept of digital collections in terms of “virtual libraries” and allowed the development of “virtual museums”. We present here the application of the digital chain VIRCOPAL® on some pathological bones that reveal war traumas, coming from a mass grave of Napoleonic French soldiers dating from the Retreat from Russia (Königsberg 1812). This “digital bone library” is a major issue in terms of heritage preservation and valorisation but also in terms of research for the study of inner structures of these original specimens that are rare, fragile and remotely located from the place of study., En archéologie, la constitution de collections ostéologiques à visée méthodologique (séries de référence) ou d’intérêt patrimonial (collections archéologiques) est une nécessité pour l’anthropologie, l’archéozoologie, la paléontologie et la paléopathologie. Les collections réelles posent des questions spécifiques concernant leur statut et leurs modalités d’acquisition. Les avancées des sciences du numérique dans le champ de la documentation ont abouti au concept de collections numériques en terme de “bibliothèques virtuelles” et autorisent le développement de “musées virtuels”. Nous présentons ici l’application de la chaîne de traitement d’imagerie numérique VIRCOPAL® à des pièces osseusespathologiques (traumatismes de guerre) issues d’un charnier de soldats français de la retraite napoléonienne de Russie (Königsberg 1812). Cette “virtothèque ostéologique” revêt un intérêt majeur en terme de conservation et de valorisation patrimoniale mais aussi en termes de recherche en permettant la mise en évidence de structures internes inaccessibles sur ces pièces originales rares, fragiles et situées à distance du lieu d’étude. more...

From the Abri Suard site (Charente) many isolated human remains have been recovered, dated to the oxygen isotopic stage 6. During the excavations conducted by P. David, a non-adult frontal bone was found and designed later as La Chaise S.15. An ontogenetic and phylogenetical interpretation of this bone is reported, based upon a comparison between the charentian fossil and other children. The comparative sample includes Middle and Upper Paleolithic individuals as well as two samples of recent children. From the pathological study the cause of death of this very young child is discussed., De nombreux vestiges humains ont été découverts dans l'Abri Suard (Charente) qui peuvent être rapportés au stade isotopique 6. Une interprétation ontogénique et phylogénétique de l'os frontal de La Chaise S. 15 provenant des fouilles de P. David est proposée. Celle-ci prend en considération une étude comparative avec les enfants du Paléolithique européen (moyen et supérieur) et deux échantillons d'enfants issus de populations récentes. La présence d'une pathologie permet de discuter la cause éventuelle de décès pour cet enfant., Coqueugniot Hélène, Liguero Dominique, Tillier Anne-Marie, Chech Mario. L'os frontal immature de La Chaise S. 15 (Abri Suard, La Chaise de Vouthon, Charente) : Phylogénie et pathologie. In: Paléo, n°8,1996. pp. 9-17. more...

This study presents Anthropological Facial Approximation in Three Dimensions (AFA3D), a new computerized method for estimating face shape based on computed tomography (CT) scans of 500 French individuals. Facial soft tissue depths are estimated based on age, sex, corpulence, and craniometrics, and projected using reference planes to obtain the global facial appearance. Position and shape of the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears are inferred from cranial landmarks through geometric morphometrics. The 100 estimated cutaneous landmarks are then used to warp a generic face to the target facial approximation. A validation by re-sampling on a subsample demonstrated an average accuracy of c. 4 mm for the overall face. The resulting approximation is an objective probable facial shape, but is also synthetic (i.e., without texture), and therefore needs to be enhanced artistically prior to its use in forensic cases. AFA3D, integrated in the TIVMI software, is available freely for further testing. more...

International audience

Facial soft tissue depths (FSTD) are used in facial approximation to render the shape of the face, and are traditionally published specifically to population, corpulence, and sex amongst other factors. This paper investigates the variability of FSTD collected at 37 landmarks on 500 CT (computed tomography) scans of French living individuals. The specificity of the sample is evaluated by comparing values with six published datasets of various populations and recording techniques. Apart from a significant influence of the corpulence, FSTD show negligible variations with age and sex. The differences between the French sample and other datasets contradict the hypothesis of major influence of population, and underline sample specificity linked with technique and methodology of data measurement. Regression equations were computed to estimate FSTD using age, sex, facial build, and craniometrics, leading to more accurate results if such factors are known. Nevertheless, application of the pooled T-table (Tallied-Facial-Soft-Tissue-Depth-Data) has been validated according to the French sample. more...

Les methodes d’estimation de l’âge des enfants se fondent sur des referentiels pouvant etre biaises. L’evolution technologique aidant, l’imagerie medicale et 3D peuvent etre utilisees pour ameliorer ou developper des methodes moins subjectives. Ces nouvelles approches conduisent egalement a identifier de nouveaux criteres d’estimation de l’âge au deces. Aussi, pour en proposer, il est essentiel de s’appuyer sur un echantillon de reference, dont il faut connaitre les caracteristiques et qui offre un apercu de la variabilite populationnelle. Cette variabilite, comparee a celle des taxons fossiles, permet d’apporter de nouvelles informations sur le developpement dentaire de ces derniers et d’approfondir la reflexion sur l’estimation de l’âge des sujets immatures en general et des fossiles en particulier. En effet, a travers cette etude, nous nous proposons de fournir des ameliorations methodologiques aux methodes de Moorrees et al. 1963a, b et de proposer de nouvelles pistes dans l’estimation de l’âge des enfants grâce a l’imagerie medicale et 3D a travers les volumes dentaires. Une premiere application de ces propositions a l’enfant neanderthalien Châteauneuf 2 a ete effectuee. Elle rend compte de l’importance des criteres selectionnes pour l’estimation de l’âge, produisant des ecarts plus importants que pour des enfants modernes. De plus, elle met en avant le developpement differentiel des premieres molaires permanentes entre les deux arcades dentaires. more...

This case is an example of fibrous dysplasia (FD) of bone in an adult male cranium. The Glen Williams Ossuary is a commingled sample composed of a minimum of 309 individuals from southern Ontario, Canada, dating to the 14th century, A.D., just prior to European contact. The site represents the outcome of a Feast of the Dead, a defining ceremony among Iroquoian speaking peoples of the region. The affected individual is represented by a partial adult cranium that possesses an enlarged left temporal bone. In the absence of changes affecting the texture and composition of the outer cortex, CT allows us to visualize the internal structure of the bone in multiple locations and orientations. This procedure revealed that pathological changes were restricted to the squamous portion. Three radiographic patterns associated with FD were noted in this individual: Pagetoid/ground glass appearance, sclerotic and cystic lesions. The unique pattern of radiographic findings and solitary nature of the lesion are strong evidence for the diagnosis of FD. Differential diagnoses include: Paget's disease, intraosseous meningeoma, giant cell tumor, osteochondroma and histiocytosis X. more...

Accuracy of forensic facial approximation and superimposition techniques relies on the knowledge of anatomical correlations between soft and hard tissues. Recent studies by Stephan and collaborators (6,8,10) reviewed traditional guidelines leading to a wrong placement of the eyeball in the orbit. As those statements are based on a small cadaver sample, we propose a validation of these findings on a large database (n = 375) of living people. Computed tomography scans of known age and sex subjects were used to collect landmarks on three-dimensional surfaces and DICOM with TIVMI. Results confirmed a more superior and lateral position of the eyeball relatively to the orbital rims. Orbital height and breadth were used to compute regression formulae and proportional placement using percentages to find the most probable position of the eyeball in the orbit. A size-related sexual dimorphism was present but did not impact on the prediction accuracy. more...

Digital investigation of anthropological material through computed tomography (CT) offers several new opportunities in morphometrics. However, an object measured with computer-assisted methods does not necessarily exactly match the original one. The scanning and surface reconstruction of the object induce some alterations, and data acquisition is prone to measurement uncertainty. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the intra- and inter-observers variations in medical CT scan measurements of a known-size phantom and two dry crania. Two software packages, AMIRA and Treatment and Increased Vision for Medical Imaging (TIVMI), which use different techniques of surface reconstructions, were compared. The mean difference between the measurements was lower for TIVMI, using an objective algorithm based on the half-maximum height (HMH) protocol in three dimensions (3D). AMIRA can induce up to a 4% error in known measurements and 5% uncertainty in dry skull measurements. This study emphasises the risk of object shape alteration in each step of its digitisation. more...

International audience

Endocranial volume (EV) estimation is widely used in physical anthropology for assessing brain size differences between taxa and monitoring the emergence of brain growth patterns in modern humans. However, to date, no reference data are available for modern human EV ontogeny. We measured 94 skulls with known sex and age (ranging from 0 to 7.5 years) from the osteological collection of Strasbourg University (OCSU) by using an accurate digital active contour model algorithm on 3D virtual models, reconstructed by CT. The OCSU data also allow us to propose improved equations for estimating EV in immature individuals from dry skull diameters (length, width, and height). Aside from the EV, the average proportional endocranial volume (PEV), corresponding to the ratio of EV at a given age to the average EV in the corresponding adult population, was also computed. EV nearly doubles during the first year of life, and later continues to expand more slowly, at least until 7 years of age. No sex differences can be demonstrated between the EV distributions of boys and girls in this sample. However, although PEV at birth is identical in girls and boys, it later displays significantly higher values in the girls of our series. PEV obtained at birth is 22%, which is quite different from values established for the brain itself from autopsied individuals, or MRI data. This suggests that assessments of EV and PEV values in fossil specimens should be conducted by using identical measures in comparative samples of extant humans and apes. Am J Phys Anthropol 147:312–318, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. more...

Infracranial sequences of maturation are commonly used to estimate the age at death of nonadult specimens found in archaeological, paleoanthropological, or forensic contexts. Typically, an age assessment is made by comparing the degree of long-bone epiphyseal fusion in the target specimen to the age ranges for different stages of fusion in a reference skeletal collection. While useful as a first approximation, this approach has a number of shortcomings, including the potential for "age mimicry," being highly dependent on the sample size of the reference sample and outliers, not using the entire fusion distribution, and lacking a straightforward quantitative way of combining age estimates from multiple sites of fusion. Here we present an alternative probabilistic approach based on data collected on 137 individuals, ranging in age from 7- to 29-years old, from a documented skeletal collection from Coimbra, Portugal. We then use cross validation to evaluate the accuracy of age estimation from epiphyseal fusion. While point estimates of age can, at least in some circumstances, be both accurate and precise based on the entire skeleton, or many sites of fusion, there will often be substantial error in these estimates when they derive from one or only a few sites. Because a probabilistic approach to age estimation from epiphyseal fusion is computationally intensive, we make available a series of spreadsheets or computer programs that implement the approach presented here. more...

International audience

The mandible is a complex osteological structure composed of distinct units integrated into a single bone around the director axis of the mandibular nerve. In this study of the mandibular development, we use a method that synthesizes the contributions of each sub-unit, using the mandibular canal as reference system. This novel approach results in new informations and confirms the leading role of the mandibular nerve and of its curve in mandibular development. It would seem to be possible to explain a major part of mandibular development by the role of the nerve as guide. more...

3D surface reconstruction using the Half Maximum Height (HMH) algorithm is a method to extract a surface of interest from a voxel data set. It is based on the original HMH method applied to each voxel of the segmented surface to reconstruct. From a 3D voxel grid, an initial segmentation is computed to extract a discrete surface of interest. For each of these voxels, HMH computes a segmentation and an orientation. The result of this step is then processed using a Marching Cube-like algorithm. The two major advantages of this method are the precision of the surface extraction and its non user-dependancy. more...

International audience; Laser scan acquisition, reconstruction and size evolution measurement of the anterior fontanelle are presented for the private osteology collection of the chair of anatomy in the Faculty of Medicine at Strasbourg. Two main results are presented. The first one regards the skull cap fixed error acquisition and reconstruction. The second one concerns the evaluation of the heterogeneity of the fontanelle closure processes. more...

Laser scanner acquisition, reconstruction and size evolution measurement of the anterior fontanelle are presented for the private osteology collection of the chair of anatomy in the Faculty of Medicine at Strasbourg. Two main results are presented. The first one regards the skull cap fixed error acquisition and reconstruction. The second one concerns the evaluation of the heterogeneity of the fontanelle closure processes. more...

The objective of the present paper is to give some data in medical imaging and 3D reconstruction applied in bio-anthropological field. Scanner CT images are a powerful tool to explore internal structures, to reconstruct incomplete bones and to give biomechanical interpretation based on bone morphology. Further, we propose to argument a cultural hypothesis relatively to a deliberate treatment concerning a human bone, Nous présentons quelques applications de l’imagerie médicale et de la reconstitution 3D dans le domaine de l’anthropologie biologique. L’acquisition et l’exploitation d’images scanner CT permettent d’accéder aux structures internes, de reconstituer des parties manquantes et d’exploiter des caractéristiques bio-mécaniques. Nous proposons également l’argumentation d’une hypothèse culturelle en relation avec un aménagement pratiqué sur un os humain. more...

Age at death of a single skeletal individual or a group is essential information in archaeological, paleoanthropological, and forensic contexts. Dental remains are the most commonly used age indicators, but when the dentition is not available, or too few teeth are present for an accurate age assessment, other age indicators such as skeletal maturation must be used. Of particular utility in this regard is the fusion of the epiphyses of the infracranial skeleton. Here we present new aging standards based on the infracranial maturation of individuals from the known age and sex collection from Coimbra, Portugal. We scored infracranial epiphyseal fusion and spheno-occipital synchondrosis closure (64 loci of ossification in total) on 137 skeletons from individuals between 7 and 29 years old. We further discuss developmental differences between the sexes and similarities and differences between the Coimbra documented collection and other published aging standards. more...

International audience; Microstructural studies have suggested that an extended period of growth was absent in representatives of Homo erectus, and that Neandertals reached adulthood significantly more rapidly than modern humans. In addition to general rate of growth, a prolonged postnatal period of brain development allows humans to develop complex cognitive and social skills. Conditions in brain growth similar to those observed in extant humans were not established in the first representatives of Homo erectus. To assess the degree of secondary altriciality reached by Neandertals, we examined the most complete skulls available for immature Neandertal specimens. The endocranial volumes were evaluated by using equations based on external cranial measurements. The proportional endocranial volumes (PEV) of these fossils were compared to the PEV of known age modern children from Western Europe and to a developmental series of Pan troglodytes. We present an estimation of the cranial capacity of Krapina 1. Although Neandertal children are close to the modern variation, the position of the youngest specimens in the upper range of variation led us to propose that Neandertals may have displayed a slightly more primitive pattern with respect to the speed of brain growth. more...

In his comments, Leigh (2006) argues that when absolutebrain size rather than proportional size is plotted againstage, the juvenile Homo erectus specimen Mojokerto fallsinto the extant Homo sapiens range of variation. On the otherhand, we showed that, when proportional endocranial volume(PEV, i.e., the ratio between the endocranial volume of an in-dividual at a given age and the average adult endocranial vol-ume) is used as the means of comparison, Mojokerto fallswithin the chimpanzee range rather than the human range(Coqueugniot et al., 2004). Although these observations mayseem contradictory, there is, in fact, no major disagreementbetween them. Absolute and proportional brain sizes addressdifferent questions. Additionally, that H. erectus and H. sapi-ens may have had similar absolute brain sizes at an earlyage does not necessarily imply similar developmental curves.As the adult brain size is quite different between the two spe-cies, this may actually imply different developmental trajecto-ries. Finally, with respect to the variability of absolute andproportional brain size in humans and apes, our data yield dif-ferent results than do the data used by Leigh. This discrepancymay result from several methodological issues that we alsofind important to clarify.Age determination for MojokertoIt is certainly possible to debate our age determination forMojokerto of 0.5e1.5 years. However, previous age estimates(from one to eight years old) have been based on vague argu-ments, including some based on the braincase size of the spec-imen, which led to circular reasoning about brain development.We utilized the most accurate available age indicators. Thefossa subarcuata closure and the fontanelle were most reliable.Our study also showed that the external tympanic morphology,mentioned by Leigh, is a poor age indicator. A fused or unfusedstate of the tympanic plate is observed at variable frequenciesin all the age classes between birth and adulthood. It shouldbe noted that, if, based on this feature, an older individualage (ca. 4e6 years old) is favored for Mojokerto, then thePEVof this juvenile H. erectus would be closer to the modernhuman distribution (Fig. 1), but its absolute brain size would bepushed farther away from the modern human distribution.Problems with material and methodologyThe study of brain development in fossil hominins is pri-marily based on measurement of the endocranial volume(EV). In contrast, the data utilized by Leigh represent post-autopsy brain weights, whereby EV is estimated by applyinga coefficient of specific gravity. The autopsy data introduceimportant limitations for precisely inferring EV and for evalu-ating its variability in humans and in apes. The cerebrospinalfluid surrounding the brain represents about 12% of the endo-cranial cavity (Peters et al., 1998). During an autopsy, a vari-able quantity of the cerebrospinal fluid escapes from thesubarachnoid space and from the ventricles, making it difficultto accurately control for this factor a posteriori. Another im-portant factor that artificially increases variability is the cause more...

International audience; The authors study burials of the medieval period in westernMongolia shortly before the emergenceof Genghis Khan. They find that both inhumation and cremation are practised, with a varietyof accompanying rituals. Systematic micro-analysis of bone fragments on the one hand, and theaccounts of early travellers on the other, allow these researchers to propose detailed explanationsof mortuary practice in thirteenth century Altai that will be highly suggestive to prehistoriansworking elsewhere. more...

Accurate determination of sex in skeletal human samples is very important in anthropological and demographic studies. Recently, Loth and Henneberg have suggested that a new osteological criterion on the mandible, the mandibular ramus posterior flexure (MRPF) had a high sex discriminating effectiveness. A preliminary test applied to a few hominid mandibles )including Australopithecines, Homo erectus, Neanderthals and Upper palaeolithic hominids) apparently confirmed the high reliability of the MRPF as a sex indicator ‘over time and through palaeospecies’. As the pelvis is commonly considered as providing the most significant criteria that allows the establishment of skeletal sexual dimorphism of adults, the present paper evaluates this mandibular feature on a few additional palaeolithic hominids (i.e. Neanderthals and Early Modern Humans) for whom a gender estimation was known based upon the pelvis. This analysis was conducted on the original material and its results appear in contradiction with those of the previous studies made by Loth and Henneberg. A reconsideration of the visual assessment of MRPF as a sex indicator in Homo sapiens fossil hominids is therefore suggested. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. more...

A study of the morphological variation of the skull in children, taking into consideration their age, sex and geographical origin. Extensive research (761 skulls were studied) has resulted in an exhaustive report which clearly fills a long-standing gap in the study of human cranial development. more...

International audience

The increasing use of medical imaging and image processing techniques allows the generation of 3D images and new possibilities of analysis in physical anthropology. Until now paleopathology is still using 2D images for retrospective diagnosis whereas 3D is widely used in medical practice. The goal of this paper is to illustrate the interest of 3D approach through 2 paleopathological examples. Morphometric analyses of pathological lesions on a skull, and sacro-iliac fusion with intra osseous cyst. The 3D methods we used allowed us to corroborate the initial diagnosis and to bring additional data that cannot be obtained from 2D methods. Our results emphasize the great potential interest of 3D imaging for retrospective diagnosis and more generally for teaching, scientific exchanges and heritage preservation in paleopathology., Dans le domaine de l’anthropologie biologique, l’imagerie médicale et la 3D ont permis le développement de nouvelles analyses. Or, jusqu’à récemment, ces nouvelles technologies numériques n’avaient pas réellement atteint le domaine de la paléopathologie, où les résultats reposent essentiellement sur des lectures macroscopiques de pièces pathologiques, de radiographies ou de scanner CT. Cet article montre, au travers de 2 exemples (un crâne et une articulation sacro-iliaque), comment les techniques 3D permettent des explorations morphologiques tridimensionnelles des structures externes et internes des pièces paléopathologiques. Les méthodes tridimensionnelles améliorent les performances du diagnostic et apportent des résultats supplémentaires que ne peuvent fournir les méthodes 2D. Ces résultats montrent les intérêts multiples de l’imagerie médicale et de la 3D au plan diagnostique, didactique et de diffusion-valorisation dans l’étude des pathologies, déclinées au présent aussi bien qu’au passé. more...

International audience

International audience

International audience

In the Levant, the Middle Paleolithic (about 200-50 Ka B.P.) corresponds to a period of time that is crucial for understanding evolutionary mechanisms and the spread of Homo sapiens out of Africa. The Qafzeh site (Lower Galilee) located at the crossroads of the three major geographical areas of the Old World is rich of archaeological deposits dated to the middle of this time period (92 ± 5 ka BP). The site is exceptional both for its important anthropological documentation of all age groups (from perinatal to adults) and for unique funeral practices (double burial, funeral repository). While many studies have already been published on the human remains, recent technological advances in Paleoimaging permit new investigation and data improvement. Using 2D (radiographs, CT sections) and 3D (virtual reconstructions from photogrammetric data or [micro]CT-scan) tools, two types of analyses are conducted on the skull and mandible of three individuals (Qafzeh 6, 9 and 25): a morphometric study of internal structures (i.e. bony labyrinth) and a palaeopathological investigation. Examination of the inner ear of these Mousterian individuals brings evidence of an unexpected diversity within the overall Qafzeh sample; furthermore, among hominins of the comparative sample, similarities between few individuals classically considered as archaic and modern specimens are recognized. Bone and dental growth disorders are described on Qafzeh 9 that are consistent with developmental abnormalities previously identified on immature individuals from this site. The data collected illustrate the normal and pathological variability documented by the nomadic hunter-gatherers from Qafzeh, and in addition, to compare them with local and Eurasian groups associated with a Mousterian archaeological context., Au Levant, le Paléolithique moyen (environ 200-50 Ka B.P.) correspond à une période cruciale pour la compréhension des mécanismes évolutifs et la dispersion des Homo sapiens hors d’Afrique. Le site de Qafzeh (Basse Galilée), au croisement des trois grandes aires géographiques de l’ancien monde, comprend des niveaux archéologiques chronologiquement situés au cœur de cette période (92 ± 5 ka BP). Il est exceptionnel en raison à la fois d’une riche documentation anthropologique comprenant des individus de toutes les classes d’âges (du périnatal à l’adulte) et de la présence de pratiques funéraires uniques (sépulture double, dépôt funéraire). Si de nombreuses études ont déjà été publiées sur cette documentation fossile, les progrès technologiques récents de la Paléoimagerie permettent d’extraire des données inédites. Ainsi grâce à des outils 2D (radiographies, coupes CT) et 3D (reconstructions virtuelles à partir de données photogrammétriques ou de [micro]CT-scan) des analyses sont réalisées sur la tête osseuse de trois individus (Qafzeh 6, 9 et 25). Deux types d’analyses sont menés : une étude morphométrique de structures internes (i.e. labyrinthe osseux) et une étude paléopathologique. L’examen de l’oreille interne dévoile ainsi une diversité inattendue pour la population présente à Qafzeh ; par ailleurs des rapprochements au sein des échantillons de comparaison, entre quelques individus classiquement considérés comme archaïques et d’autres modernes, se dégagent. L’étude paléopathologique quant à elle révèle sur Qafzeh 9 la présence de troubles de la croissance osseuse et dentaire, qui font écho aux anomalies du développement précédemment décrites sur des fossiles immatures du site. Ces données nous permettent de mieux appréhender la variabilité individuelle normale et pathologique documentée à Qafzeh et de replacer ces chasseurs-cueilleurs nomades dans le contexte plus large des groupes locaux et eurasiatiques associés au contexte archéologique Moustérien. more...

Some changes observed on human bones can be related to activities practiced during life. Scholars have considered the reconstruction of activities from skeletal changes in past populations as “Bioarchaeology’s Holy Grail”. Horse riding, in particular, has interested bioarchaeologists and paleopathologists for several decades as it brought profound and lasting changes in the history of human cultural evolution. However, the existence of various confounding factors and the lack of clear contextual evidence in connection with the skeletal remains often result in limited or unreliable interpretations of skeletal changes in terms of specific activities. Archaeological and historical sources attest that tribes of semi-nomadic populations conquered the Carpathian Basin with powerful armies of mounted archers at the turn of the 9th and 10th centuries, which led to the foundation of the Kingdom of Hungary in the year 1000/1001. Cemeteries from that period often provide cases of deposits of archery and horse riding equipment as well as horse bones associated with the individuals in the graves. Those populations are, thus, among the most pertinent to be used to perform methodological investigations on activity-related skeletal changes, and, on horse riding, in particular. We selected a sample of 67 individuals from the 10th-century Hungarian cemetery of Sárrétudvari-Hízóföld, in order to analyze the individuals according to the presence or absence of riding deposit in their grave. A modern comparison group of 47 presumed non-rider individuals from the documented collection of Lisbon was also selected. Only adult males were included to limit the effect of sex and age on the changes. The main objectives were to identify skeletal changes reliably related to the practice of horse riding and to improve our understanding of the populations from the Hungarian Conquest period. Various types of skeletal changes were analyzed, including some entheseal changes (at muscles attachment sites), joint changes, vertebral changes, morphological variants, and traumatic lesions. Measurements of the lower limb bones were also used to calculate indices of shape and robusticity. Statistical analyses mostly revealed significant differences between the Hungarian groups with or without riding deposit and the comparison group from Lisbon. They concerned especially some entheseal changes at the coxal bone, femur, tibia, and calcaneus, a morphological adaptation on the femoral neck, intervertebral disc herniations at the thoracolumbar junction, or the ovalization of the acetabulum on the coxal bone. All these traits can be linked to the riding posture, and, thus, seem to be promising indicators for the practice of horse riding. On another note, comparisons between groups revealed that the Hungarian individuals without deposit in their grave were likely riding horses as well. Among the limitations calling for caution is the restricted size of our archaeological samples, which is one of the points that should be improved in the future. In addition, some skeletal changes, such as the entheseal changes, have a multifactorial etiology, which represents a limitation for their interpretation. In that regard, we performed the exploratory analysis of the microarchitecture of an enthesis, the radial tuberosity. Using micro-CT acquisitions and 3D reconstructions of the canals of the cortical bone, we observed that some microstructural variations could allow, with further research, distinguishing entheseal changes related to activity from those related to other factors, thus contributing to more reliable reconstructions of the activities in past populations. In the end, we emphasize that the selection of a pertinent anthropological collection, with direct evidence of the practice of an activity, and the application of strict methodological criteria, are determinant factors for the reliable identification of activity-related skeletal changes.; Certaines modifications observées sur les os humains peuvent permettre de reconstituer les activités des populations anciennes. L'équitation représente notamment un intérêt particulier, ayant apporté des changements profonds et durables dans l'histoire de l'évolution culturelle humaine. Cependant, divers facteurs de biais et l'absence de données contextuelles claires liées aux restes osseux donnent souvent lieu à des interprétations limitées ou peu fiables des modifications osseuses en termes d’activités spécifiques. Les sources archéologiques et historiques attestent que des tribus de populations semi-nomades ont conquis le bassin des Carpates à l’aide d’armées de cavaliers-archers au tournant des 9ème et 10ème siècles, conduisant ainsi à la fondation du Royaume de Hongrie en l'an 1000/1001. Les cimetières de cette période fournissent des cas de dépôts de matériel lié à l’archerie et à l’équitation ainsi que des ossements de chevaux associés aux individus dans les tombes. Ces populations sont ainsi parmi les plus pertinentes pour mener des études méthodologiques sur les modifications osseuses liées aux activités, et notamment à la pratique cavalière. Nous avons sélectionné 67 individus issus du cimetière hongrois de Sárrétudvari-Hízóföld (10ème siècle), pour les analyser selon la présence ou l'absence de dépôt lié au cheval dans leurs tombes. Un échantillon moderne de comparaison de 47 individus présumés non-cavaliers a également été sélectionné au sein de la collection documentée de Lisbonne. Seuls les sujets adultes masculins ont été inclus afin de limiter l'influence de variations en lien avec le sexe et l'âge. Les objectifs étaient d’identifier des modifications squelettiques liées à la pratique cavalière et d’améliorer nos connaissances sur les populations de la Conquête hongroise. Nous avons analysé diverses modifications osseuses, au niveau des enthèses (points d'attache des muscles), articulations et vertèbres, ainsi que des variations morphologiques et lésions traumatiques. Des mesures des os des membres inférieurs ont aussi servi à calculer des indices de forme et de robustesse. Les analyses statistiques ont principalement révélé des différences significatives entre les groupes hongrois avec ou sans mobilier et le groupe de comparaison. Celles-ci concernent notamment les modifications de certaines enthèses de l’os coxal, du fémur, du tibia et du calcanéus, une adaptation morphologique sur le col du fémur, les hernies discales à la jonction thoraco-lombaire, ou encore l'ovalisation de l’acétabulum de l'os coxal. Ces traits peuvent tous être liés à la posture du cavalier et semblent donc être des indicateurs prometteurs pour la pratique cavalière. Par ailleurs, les comparaisons ont montré que les individus hongrois sans dépôt dans leur tombe montaient aussi vraisemblablement à cheval. Parmi les limitations, appelant malgré tout à la prudence, figure la taille restreinte de nos échantillons archéologiques, qui est l’un des points qui devront être améliorés à l'avenir. En outre, certaines modifications osseuses, comme celles des enthèses, ont une étiologie multifactorielle, limitant ainsi leur interprétation. À cet égard, nous avons mené l’analyse exploratoire de la microarchitecture d'une enthèse, la tubérosité du radius. À l’aide d’acquisitions micro-CT et de reconstructions 3D des canaux de l'os cortical, nous avons observé que des variations microstructurales pourraient permettre, avec des recherches supplémentaires, de distinguer les modifications des enthèses liées aux activités de celles liées à d’autres facteurs, contribuant ainsi à de plus fiables reconstructions des activités des populations anciennes. Au final, le choix d'une collection anthropologique pertinente, avec des preuves directes de la pratique d'une activité, ainsi que l'application de critères méthodologiques stricts, sont autant d’éléments déterminants pour l'identification fiable de modifications squelettiques liées aux activités. more...